Newcomer's Journey: From reception centre to permanent housing

Most asylum claimants leave their homes looking to escape violence or persecution. They are searching for a place where they can feel safe and join a welcoming community.

The newcomer reception centres are designed to do just that. They are meant to provide asylum claimants, also known as refugee claimants, or migrants, with a temporary, but supportive and dignified start to their new life in Ottawa.

Migration to our city, including that of asylum claimants, is entirely managed by the federal government. While we have no control or input on the process, we are working hard to respond to the reality and ensure people have a warm, safe place to stay.

Throughout this article, we will walk you through the journey that an asylum claimant requiring emergency housing will take to become part of our community and find permanent housing.

The first step in the process is the refugee claim. This is when someone looking for refugee protection makes an application for asylum at a port of entry or an inland office. This step is entirely managed by the federal government. They follow an established step-by-step process to take in the asylum claimants and assess the eligibility of their claim.

During this process, the various federal agencies involved will also conduct an initial screening, which includes security and a medical examination.

The second step on the journey for those requiring emergency housing is the newcomer reception centres. This is a crucial step that is currently missing in our system. The centres will be purpose-built and offer comfortable and dignified temporary accommodations.

Immediate connections to settlement services, critical to help claimants integrate into our community, will be made available on-site. The services that will be offered are being designed with internal and external partners, as well as those with lived experience, to ensure they meet the unique needs of asylum claimants.

The services will be finalized in the coming months through the design process. It's anticipated that support for immigration, employment, trauma and language training will be among the services included.

Asylum claimants will stay in the reception centres for up to 90 days. Staff and settlement agencies will assist each claimant to help them integrate into our community and, more importantly, find permanent housing. If they are unable to find housing within 90 days, they move to the third step in the process – transitional housing.

Transitional housing are buildings that have been converted to support the newcomer reception system, such as the former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard, or homes that are located throughout our city. They will provide alternate temporary housing and allow staff and agencies more time to support asylum claimants in their search for permanent housing.

The final step in the journey for asylum claimants is permanent housing. This will be a culmination of all the work done by staff and partners to support claimants as they integrate into our community. While this may be the end of their settlement journey, it will only be the beginning of their new life as a member of our community. Settlement services will continue to be made available to those in need to ensure that life gets off to a good, positive start.

Together, we can continue the tradition of being a welcoming city.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.