Pathways to Housing …

The Experiences of Sponsored Refugees and Refugee Claimants in Accessing Permanent Housing in Toronto

Robert Murdie

Geography Department

York University

Objective

Compare the housing experiences of sponsored refugees and refugee claimants in Toronto

Why? Relatively little research on housing access by refugees Assumption that the two groups are monolithic Differences in labour market success between sponsored

refugees and refugee claimants Renaud et al (2003): “’One’s Bad and the Other One’s Worse’:

Differences in Economic Integration Between Asylum Seekers and Refugees Selected Abroad” “ . . . the important finding is that refugee claimants are disadvantaged

over landed refugees once all other factors are taken into account.”

Working Hypothesis Refugee claimants will

experience a more difficult pathway to housing than sponsored refugees and will be less well housed, at least in the initial stage of settlement

Sponsored Refugee

RefugeeClaimant

PermanentHousing

Research Design Interviews with key informants Focus group with IRHTG (Toronto) Individual interviews (20 sponsored refugees, 24

refugee claimants) Reputational (snow-ball) sample Semi-structured questionnaire 35 interviews transcribed

The Sample: Selected Characteristics

Sponsored Refugees Limited no. of countries More time outside home

country Larger households Older Less education Weaker facility in English LESS human capital

Refugee Claimants Wide range of countries Less time outside home

country Smaller households Younger More education Stronger facility in English MORE human capital

The Sample: On Arrival

Sponsored Refugees More

Arrived with partner and/or children

Knew friends and/or relatives in Toronto before arrival

Were met on arrival MORE social capital

Refugee Claimants Fewer

Arrived with partner and/or children

Knew friends and/or relatives in Toronto before arrival

Were met on arrival LESS social capital

Initial Housing Experience Sponsored Refugees

Temporary housing more likely with family and/or friends than a shelter

Average time to find permanent housing: .8 months

Refugee Claimants Temporary housing

more likely in a shelter than with family and/or friends

Average time to find permanent housing: 7.2 months

First Permanent Dwelling

Sponsored Refugees More likely to locate in

a neighbourhood with co-ethnics

High-rise apartment Rent from private

landlord Larger Units Less likely to share with

non-family members

Refugee Claimants Less likely to locate in

a neighbourhood with co-ethnics

Diversity of housing Rent from private

landlord Smaller Units Much more likely to

share with non-family members

Current Dwelling 50% of sponsored refugees and 30% of refugee claimants did

not move from first permanent dwelling Refugee claimants

Number in high-rise apartments doubled and a minority gained access to social housing

Increased unit space – more two bedroom apartments Fewer sharing with non-family members Paid less rent than sponsored refugees Increased dwelling and neighbourhood satisfaction

High proportion of both groups indicated that housing and getting housing were not what they imagined before coming to Canada (Expected lower rents and more govt. assistance)

Affordability

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

SponsoredRefugees

Refugee Claimants

Rent to Income Ratio

<30% 30-50% >50%

Summary and Conclusion Refugee claimants experienced a more difficult pathway to

housing than sponsored refugees (confirms Renaud et al). Sponsored refugees found permanent housing much more

quickly than refugee claimants (social networks) Claimants generally improved their housing position over time

and narrowed the gap with sponsored refugees Affordability is a serious problem for both groups Both groups relied heavily on informal sources (social capital)

for housing information and help. Is the strategy of relying on friends and relatives a viable long

term solution for acquiring affordable, good quality rental housing, especially when the supply of such housing is limited?