Sponsorship Applications: Sponsorship Programs

Tom Denton Dept: Canada's largest private sponsor of refugees, Winnipeg's Hospitality House, is struggling to stay hospitable with a surge in the number of arrivals and a 60 per cent cut in funding, according to Winnipeg Free Press. This week, more than a dozen bikes leaned against the Hospitality House residence in the North End. The refugees inside built them with the help of the non-profit WRENCH -- Winnipeg Repair Education and Cycling Hub -- that salvages donated bicycles and teaches people how to build their own and wAYNE GLOWACKI / Karin Gordon with from left Emmanuel Rafiki from Congo, and Sisay Segni, Dawit Semure and Brihanu Workiya from Ethiopia. The federal government is trying to clear a backlog of applications that's left people languishing in limbo too long, said Hospitality House executive director Tom Denton. "They've doubled landings under private sponsorship programs." The non-profit church-run agency isn't accepting any new sponsorship applications until the backlog is cleared, he said. And it is trying to keep up the hospitality in what's suddenly become a full house. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.