Resources

Rainbow Railroad’s Private Sponsorship Program (PSR) collaborates with organizations and settlement teams to support newcomers.

Support for newcomers typically span a year, at approximately CAD $23,000 for their first year in Canada. The Government of Canada provides 3-6 months of financial support, depending on the program and case. The remaining financial supports (in the range of CAD$12,000 and $16,000) is provided by settlement teams with support from Rainbow Railroad. This is usually done through collaborative fundraising efforts.

Rainbow Railroad provides support through the application processes in addition to offering resources to help the LGBTQI+ newcomer resettle and adjust to their life in Canada. Settlement teams are integral to newcomer adjustment.

Published in July 2022, this study reviews existing literature to examine the experiences of LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers, including root causes of migration, barriers to claiming asylum, and arrival and resettlement challenges.

This webinar is part of a series of knowledge exchange events organized as part of the activities of Allies in Refugees Integration (ARI) program of OCASI. It focuses on discussing the intersectional global and Canadian contexts of LGBTQIA+ and the gaps in service provision and ways to improve the support provided to LGBTQIA+ refugees. Guest speakers include: 

Martha Singh Jennings, Director of Housing, Advocacy and Support Services, The 519

Paige Mac Lean, Program Officer, Complimentary Pathways, Rainbow Railroad

Bill Croson , Private Sponsor of LGBTQIA+ refugees

Learn about the history, Private Sponsorship through the Rainbow Refugee Assistant Partnership (RRAP) , Blended Visa Office-Referred Program (BVOR), Complementary Pathways and the journey of LGBTQI refugees from their country of origin to resettlement in Canada. Organized by the Rainbow Coalition for Refuge and recorded on March 10th, 2023.

Please use the Passcode 4U4$n6qq to listen the webinar. 

Organized by the Rainbow Coalition of Refuge and Rainbow Refugee Society in the Spring of 2023, this webinar focuses on the unique and particular challenges of LGBTQIA refugees, their sexual and mental health related needs and available resources. 

Last Chance (Dir. Paul Émile d'Entremont, 2012) is a feature documentary that tells the stories of 5 asylum seekers who flee their native countries to escape homophobic violence. They face hurdles integrating into Canada, fear deportation and anxiously await a decision that will change their lives forever.