As part of our COVID-19 response we are looking for support for women at our shelter, youth and other precarious migrants that do not have access to the emergency benefits and measures during the present health crisis. Residents of our houses, youth and clients have been laid off and need a lot of help.
You are welcome to support with GROCERY GIFT CARDS,BASKET WITH PERSONAL CARE KITS, or visit our website and make your donation through Canada Help. https://www.fcjrefugeecentre.org/get-involved/donate/
Look for the category FUND and select “FROM OUR KITCHEN’S TABLE… TO YOURS. IN SOLIDARITY WITH PRECARIOUS MIGRANTS “
Also you can find other initiatives we are implementing: an Open Letter signed by community organizations and groups in Ontario in solidarity with precarious migrants and their families.
Racism, and in particular anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism which has been promoted by white supremacy and colonialism is the very foundation upon which both Canada and the United States have been built. The incidents we have seen in recent weeks, incidents repeated so many times over the course of weeks, months, and years, have been a scary reminder of the realities faced by Black and Indigenous people. It is a reminder that the barbaric colonial displacement and genocide executed against North America’s First Nations, and the enslavement of African peoples continues to directly affect every person, particularly racialized communities, all across North America.
We stand in solidarity with, and alongside all people across this land, in demanding justice, accountability, and equity. We are calling for a fair, unbiased justice system which includes reparations from any government and authority involved in violence against racialized communities, particularly Black and Indigenous communities. We recognize the additional vulnerabilities experienced by racialized women and youth, and the tremendous systemic barriers faced by these populations.
The priority for the government must be funding humanity and not furthering oppression.
We recognize and support the resilience, the actions, the will, and the power of all oppressed people to fight for their freedom. But we recognize this self-determination with conscious awareness of our own privileges, and welcome the responsibility of joining in the resistance; refusing to stand silently by while violent barbaric acts of systemic oppression continue. We commit to actively and deliberately breaking the silence that protects and promotes structural and systemic racism wherever it exists across Turtle Island, our shared home.
Black Lives Matter Here. Indigenous Lives Matter Here. These lives are valid, are worthy, and are loved here. This is our shared home. And we will not stay silent.
We care about your health and wellbeing and want to make sure you are informed. Please find useful information in our resource booklet HOW TO… FIND HELP
This is a toolkit with information about how to find support during the crisis of the COVID-19.
The document provides helpful resources. Keep in mind that most of the information is focused in Toronto and it might change depending on the situation of the health emergency.
CONTENT: (Immigration and settlement support)
-How COVID-19 is impacting immigration and refugee procedures
-Exemptions & travel restrictions
-How to make a refugee claim inland under COVID 19 instructions
-Processing times and extensions
-Health support
-Access to foodbanks
-Shelter in Toronto
-What to do in domestic violence situations
-Access to Ontario Works
-ETC.
More than 30 community organizations and groups in Ontario endorsed an Open Letter in Solidarity with Migrant Workers, Non-Status individuals and their families as community workers, organizers, volunteers, teachers, students and residents of Ontario, Canada.
The letter is in Solidarity with Migrant Workers, Non-Status individuals and their families as community workers, organizers, volunteers, teachers, students and residents of Ontario, Canada.
In unique times like this, Canadians must come together and not leave anyone behind.
Walking together with uprooted people and in solidarity:
Considering recent developments related to COVID-19, please be advised that Ready Tours scheduled between March 17th and April 3rd are cancelled. Keep in consideration that effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all in-person hearings and mediations were postponed until further notice. Please contact us after the first week of April for details on the upcoming Refugee Hearing Tours scheduled in April.
The FCJ Refugee Centre continues to work in solidarity with precarious migrants. We recognize that these populations are severely affected by every single precarity already as racialized and marginalized persons, and with the health and safety of our entire community in mind, we will be making some adjustments to our daily work environment. We will continue to remotely offer as many services as possible by phone, e-mail, or any other electronic means available to us.
We are encouraging our staff and volunteers to continue working from home and come to the office only when necessary. Working from the office is only recommended if they do not need to take public transportation or if they feel comfortable doing so and the ride is not long. We are also committed to practicing cleanliness and social distancing at the office as per the recommendations by the public health.
Due to all the information listed above, and with the encouragement of staff, as of today until further notice, we will switch our way of delivering services to:
Limiting in-person services to the most urgent, moving towards phone, email and any other electronic ways available to us. Particularly related to applications and procedures where the relevant Federal and Provincial institutions have relaxed deadlines, and increased flexibility of their appointments and intake.
For any inquiries on any issue or situation related to immigration and refugee process, as well as about all our services please either contact us at the emails below or call 416-469-9754 and dial the extension below:
We will still be serving clients who are in urgent need due to deadlines that are still in effect, or fundamental needs, while limiting their presence in the office to the most minimum (e.g. one family member). Such clients will only come after they confirm that they haven’t had any recent travel outside of Canada, haven’t been in contact with anyone who has travelled recently, don’t have any presenting Covid-19 symptoms, and haven’t been in contact with anyone with Covid-19 symptoms (cough, fever etc.)
Until further notice, the Primary Care Clinic, which is managed by the Inner City Health Associates, will provide appointments on a virtual care mode or via phone as need. If clients need to renew medication we encourage them to call our Centre and we will explain the procedures.
We have cancelled all our group sessions & workshops until further notice.
We thank you for your patience in this time and look forward to continuing to work together with all uprooted people and our entire community.
Dear friends , we wanted to update you on some changes we are doing during our INTAKE DAY on Mondays.
To reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, FCJ REFUGEE CENTRE changed the DROP INS on Mondays to orientations by phone or by e-mail. If you want to refer clients to us please provide them with the following contact information:
Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande valley informed us today that the covid-19 (coronavirus), as well as possible quarantines pose a threat to Sr. Norma’s ministry with susceptible refugees at the USA-Mexican border. As such, they are cancelling all of sr. Norma’s travel plans and will reschedule this event in Toronto for a later date. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may present to you. Together in solidarity with all refugees, migrants and those who work with them.
FCJ Youth Network is inviting newcomer youth interested in learn about storytelling and filmmaking. The project “The Past, The Present, Our Future” was launched with the Storytelling series of workshops that are taking place on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm.
Great turn out at the first storytelling workshop at FCJ Refugee Centre. The workshop was facilitated by Shay Shay, who guided the whole group through storytelling techniques.
With the participation of more than 15 youths, the FCJ Youth Network started their film project.
If you could not make the first week of February, you can still join the group any Wednesday and catch up on the project.
The film initiative aim is to highlight the experiences of newcomer youth in Toronto and is looking to have different voices of youth involved in the project.
FCJ Refugee Centre has an open door policy so any youth who wants to join the project is welcome to come. We are located at 208 Oakwood Ave. (one block north from St Clair West).
