Life in Transition
When was the last time you moved? Moving is such a huge job! Purging old items, boxing up belongings, cleaning, then unboxing it all on the other side, and setting up your new home. It takes time and effort to find a new doctor (next to impossible in Abbotsford), dentist, hairstylist, and other practitioners. Changing address, setting up utilities and internet, mastering the garbage pick up schedule, and meeting new neighbors… the list is endless. And this is just for moving within the country!
Imagine the disruption and trauma many Refugee Claimants experience. Threatened or tortured for simply owning a thriving business, speaking up for human rights, choosing their religion, and their country failing to protect them, they make the decision to leave everything behind and flee to safety.
Children leave friends, school, teachers, and pets. Adults leave aging parents, hard-earned professional credentials, jobs, and communities.
Life will never be the same. This is goodbye forever.
After Refugee Claimants arrive in Canada they must find affordable housing. Many find the only option to be shelters in downtown Vancouver or Surrey where wives and children are separated from their husbands and fathers. The environment is stressful and chaotic. Having just fled horrific situations most are re-traumatized, and fear is never far behind.
Most of the refugee claimants we serve were formerly staying in shelters. This is not the place for them.
Our team and volunteers have been working extra hard in the last few months to rescue men, women, and children from shelters by:
increasing the number of beds and transition housing we offer to 20 beds
reaching out to shelters in Surrey, Vancouver, and the lower mainland to provide posters and information on refugee claimants, their needs, and how Inasmuch can help
hosting a lunch-and-learn for shelter workers encouraging them to refer refugee claimants to Inasmuch or other housing opportunities
Latest News and Events
MCC Festival
We were honored to participate in the MCC Festival at the Tradex on September 13 & 14. At our booth, we shared about the wrap-around care we provide to Refugee Claimants and inspired community members to join us in the work we are doing. Proceeds from our raffle draw were donated to MCC’s global initiatives. Oh, and we enjoyed good food!
Monthly Community Dinner
We are thrilled to participate in monthly community suppers in partnership with The Gathering Church on the third Thursday of each month. These evenings give us a chance to gather around the table, share life, and provide instructional classes.
Our first community supper in September had a strong turnout with delicious food and lively conversation. After the meal, classes featured ESL, positive parenting, and self-defense. We look forward to more evenings together to build community and educate newcomers.
On the Move
We have facilitated 4 moves within the last month. Each time a resident finds their own rental housing, our small staff joins forces with helpful volunteers and the residents themselves and load and unload a moving truck full of donated household items to their next housing.
We wish you could see the look on the resident’s faces when they think back to arriving to Inasmuch with a suitcase or 2 and leave with a moving truck of items to set up their next housing. The look of amazement on their faces for the generosity of this community is worth the hard work!
We couldn’t do this without the help of donated household items Click here & see items we need for the next resident move-outs
We are out of new resident kits.
Could you supply a welcome kit for a new Inasmuch family?
Each kit costs $250.00 and provides necessary items to set up a home including toilet paper, paper towel, broom, mop, basic cleaning supplies, laundry soap, and some kitchen necessities.