Housing Assistance for Refugees

Housing and Food Security

Two of the most fundamental needs for anyone are HOUSING and FOOD. So important are these things that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in article 25(1) that, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, … ”

The “H” in T.H.R.I.V.E. focuses on what we believe we can do for Housing and Food Security for refugee claimants with an emphasis on immediate, transitional, and long-term solutions. Our current efforts seek to address immediate needs while working toward long-term solutions.

For newly arrived refugee claimants it is unbelievably hard as they are initially forced to live on social assistance that provides a TOTAL of $733 per month for an individual, and $1,250 for a couple with two children aged 17 or under. They simply cannot pay rent and buy enough food.

For Housing Security, we are developing collaborations with local developers to provide housing assistance for refugees that will be within our resources and capacity to sustain. In the meantime, we are doing all that we can to ensure access to housing and utility subsidies, and to help individual situations as donations allow with the goal of getting and keeping people housed.

For Food Security, we are working beyond providing a food resource map to people, i.e., where they can get community dinners and access food banks. Research has shown that such food charity is only truly accessible by about 25% of those who need help. By addressing the pathways to food security of adequate employment, access to health care, mental health supports, and networks of meaningful relationships, we seek to advance food security not just food access.

We are also working to help people at every stage, again as donations allow:

Ensuring when they first arrive to our office, and when they have subsequent appointments that they do not leave hungry or without what they need for their next meal.
Providing food cards and guidance in the first weeks to understand fair prices and find lower priced grocery stores.
Once people are working, our check-ins can include making sure they are eating enough and providing extra support during special occasions. For example, for Christmas we partnered with local churches and individual donors to provide some extra support to families, and for Ramadan we partnered with Muslim Social Services to ensure people had food to eat during the holy month and could celebrate Eid at the end.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

Housing Support Team – 1 to 2 people (ongoing)

Help with subsidy, community housing, and lease applications.
Help to maintain a housing search board
Help to identify fair and kind landlords

Food and Well-being Support Team – 2 to 4 people needed (ongoing)

Help us source and pick up donated food that we can provide snacks and meals in office

Help us maintain a dry goods, toiletries, and hygiene pantry that clients can benefit from when they have an appointment

Prepare welcome and support kits

Deliver support kits to eligible families at Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Thanksgiving.

Get Involved

COME and add to a growing story of impact that needs no ending. COME and help us ensure that we become so valuable to our community that we could not, not, be here; that none of us could imagine being without each other.

Donate Now

© 2026 COMPASS | All Rights Reserved. Developed by Louise Street Marketing Inc. Charitable registration number 838270015 RR0001. All monies received by COMPASS are disbursed according to the policies and approved programs and purposes of the COMPASS Refugee Centre Board of Directors. Click for more information on our donation policies.

Housing Assistance for Refugees

Housing and Food Security

We are also working to help people at every stage, again as donations allow:

Get Involved

We are a Living Wage Employer

get to know us

connect

Donor Info

Legal