Feds announce over $162M for Toronto to support asylum claimants, low-income renters
Posted February 2, 2024 1:32 pm.
Last Updated February 2, 2024 1:38 pm.
The lack of supports for asylum seekers in Toronto became quite clear when hundreds of refugees from African countries were forced to sleep on sidewalks outside a downtown Toronto shelter intake office last July, prompting Toronto mayor Olivia Chow to apologize and plead for financial help from other levels of government.
On Friday, the federal government revealed how much money Toronto would receive to help asylum seekers and low-income renters.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said the federal government would provide over $162 million in additional support for Toronto.
“First, the federal government will provide an additional $143 million for Toronto through the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP) to reimburse costs incurred by the city in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024,” a government release explained.
“This additional funding will help the city to shelter the vulnerable asylum claimants it welcomes, who come to Canada seeking protection from violence, war, and persecution.”
The federal funding is part of the $362.4 million announced on Wednesday ($100 million going to Quebec) to help provinces and cities find housing for asylum seekers — money that the province said isn’t enough considering the breadth of the migrant crisis.
As of last week, about 7,300 asylum claimants in need of housing were staying in 4,000 hotel rooms in six provinces, Immigration Minister Marc Miller confirmed.
On Wednesday, Paul Calandra, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said even if all of the $362.4 million went to Toronto, it still wouldn’t be enough.
“It doesn’t cover the needs of Toronto, let alone all the other municipalities facing the same pressures due to the increased numbers of asylum claimants,” Calandra said in a joint statement with Ontario Immigration Minister David Piccini.
“The federal government needs to take responsibility for the crisis it created and provide the necessary funding to address it.”
Freeland also announced a $19.75 million top-up to the City of Toronto’s share of the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit.
“This benefit provides direct financial support to low-income renters to help them cover the cost of rent,” a federal government release stated.
With files from The Canadian Press
