Landlords Invited to Info Session on Renting to Newcomers

Event takes place on Tuesday, April 25 at 7pm

The Fraser Valley Refugee Readiness Team (FVRRT) is hosting a community information session on Tuesday, April 25th for anyone who wants to learn more about renting to refugees and displaced Ukrainians.

Speakers will share the benefits and logistics of renting to newcomers and a refugee will share their experience in finding housing in Abbotsford. A panel representing a variety of non-profit organizations and the City of Abbotsford will be able to answer questions from attendees.

“This session will help raise awareness of the need for rental properties and also reassure landlords that newcomers make excellent tenants. Refugees have gone through rigorous background checks before being allowed to come to Canada,” said Kim Reddicopp, an Archway Refugee Integration Liaison.

“Securing affordable and accessible housing is one of the biggest challenges for newcomers,” said Reddicopp. “While all tenants are facing a shortage of rental properties and increasing prices, newcomers face additional barriers that exacerbate the issue.”

Some of these challenges are a lack of prior rental references and credit history in Canada, which can stop newcomers from being considered by some landlords.

“These barriers are out of the newcomer’s control, so we try to work with landlords to consider other factors and make exceptions,” said Touseef Amir, an Archway Housing Coordinator.

“Housing is a crucial step in the integration process. Once they are settled into long-term housing, they can enroll their children in a nearby school and find stable employment,” said Reddicopp.

Government assisted refugees receive some funding towards housing for up to a year and may receive other benefits like the child tax credit. Privately sponsored refugees receive up to a year of guaranteed support from their sponsor.

“Despite all the challenges facing them, refugees are remarkably resilient and find ways to contribute to their community,” said Donna Lo, Archway Manager of Pathways to Integration.

The Fraser Valley Refugee Readiness Team is a collective of local organizations that assist refugees and displaced Ukrainians. They work together to enhance and coordinate community support at a regional level ensuring that communities are ready to welcome, respond to the needs of, and leverage the strengths and contribution of newcomers. The group concentrates on the areas of housing, healthcare, employment and coordination of information.

While not creating new services, FVRRT members in Abbotsford help support local service providers and coordinate information as newcomers search for housing, employment and other supports. There are 14 FVRRT partners including Archway Community Services, the Abbotsford Local Immigration Partnership, Abbotsford School District, Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the Inasmuch Community Society.

The free event will be held April 25th from 7:00 pm -8:30 pm at Archway Community Services (2420 Montrose Avenue).

To register for the community info session, please visit Archway.ca/ Landlord or email FVRRT@archway.ca.

Minimum wage increases to $16.75 per hour on June 1

On June 1, 2023, B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage increasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour.

“Having a minimum wage that keeps up with inflation is a key step to prevent the lowest paid workers from falling behind,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “These workers and their families feel the impacts of high costs much more than anyone else. We are maintaining our policy of tying the minimum wage to inflation.”

The 6.9% increase in minimum wage rates reflects B.C.’s average annual inflation rate in 2022. The adjustment reflects government’s commitment to tie annual minimum wage increases to inflation. The same increase will apply to wages for residential caretakers, live-in home-support workers and camp leaders. On Jan. 1, 2024, piece rates for 15 hand-harvested crops will also increase by 6.9%.

“Elevating the minimum wage is a necessary response to inflation. The inflation we are experiencing now in B.C. is driven by profits, not wages,” said Jim Stanford, director, Centre for Future Work. “It is unfair to expect the most vulnerable workers to give up some of their non-discretionary income because of record high inflation. By ensuring fairer compensation for our lowest-paid workers, we will reduce inequality and foster a more inclusive society.”

The increase will positively affect approximately 150,000 workers who earn less than $16.75. Many are food service staff, grocery store workers, retail workers and others who were essential workers during the pandemic. Government has made regular, gradual increases to the minimum wage to provide certainty for workers and predictability for businesses. Overall, B.C.’s minimum wage has increased from one of the lowest in the country to one of the highest. The minimum wage was $10.45 per hour in 2015.

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