Surrey has emerged as the primary destination for Government-Assisted Refugees (GARS) in Metro Vancouver. The City of Surrey partnered with Immigrant Services Society of BC to conduct a study on the housing experiences of refugees in Surrey. While rising housing prices in Metro Vancouver have made Surrey an attractive destination, the study indicates that the majority of GARs in Surrey live in housing that is both unaffordable and overcrowded. Links to the complete study and the report to Council summarizing the study are provided below.
At Home in Surrey?
The Housing Experiences of Refugees in Surrey, B.C. (June 2009 Revision)
Summary of Study in Report to Council
The study noted that the current requirement to repay government transportation loans represents a significant burden to low income refugee families coming to Canada for a better life. One of the recommendations of the study was for the federal government to cease seeking repayment of transportation and pre-entry medicals costs for GARs coming to Canada.