Food Bank of York Region providing support to asylum seekers

Concern for homelessness crisis with asylum seekers in Vaughan

Newmarkettoday.ca
Oct. 23, 2023
Joseph Quigley

The Food Bank of York Region is provisioning support to asylum seekers in Vaughan amid an ongoing “homelessness crisis.”

The food bank announced it would be offering supplies to Miracle Arena Canada, which has been assisting more than 45 African asylum seekers who have come to Vaughan.

The food bank is partnering with the church to provide food assistance and personal products.

“The Food Bank of York Region responded within four hours to a plea for emergency assistance for asylum seekers at Miracle Arena,” food bank CEO Alex Bilotta said. “We are committed to providing food assistance on a weekly basis to Miracle Arena’s refugee program to ensure that no one goes hungry.”

The GTA has experienced a significant influx of refugees, resulting in a strain on services. Many have come to Vaughan with services and space filling up in Toronto, prompting Miracle Arena Canada and ANCHOR Canada to seek support from York Region. The region responded, agreeing to provide $4.3 million.

ANCHOR Canada executive director Shernett Martin said they have sheltered asylum seekers for four months without funding support, with new asylum seekers arriving daily.

“There’s no doubt that we have a crisis on our hands,” Martin explained, “The church is working 24/7 to house the asylum seekers, but they need support as they are overwhelmed.”

The region is now providing a hotel site, although staff reported to council earlier this month that space is getting filled. Martin also described difficulties ensuring adequate supplies and care in the early days of the new site.

“As an organization, we can’t turn away from this crisis. We have to create a plan to meet people’s emergency needs and provide wrap-around services,” Martin said. “We are grateful for the support we’ve received so far from the City of Vaughan and the Region of York, but more work needs to be done to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the region.”

You can donate funds or goods to Miracle Arena Canada’s emergency shelter program at miraclearena.ca, or donate to the Food Bank of York Region at fbyr.ca.