Chris Friesen and Immigrant Services Society of B.C.

Tarek Ramadan of Muslim Association of Canada: We have temporary housing for 750 people, according to CTV. We’ve now reached that. Only a small number of the 750 refugees now staying in six hotels have been moved out to permanent lodging, which has created a back-up, said Chris Friesen of the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. We’ve asked for and received a pause for five days, starting Tuesday, said Friesen. The main problem is finding homes for larger families, said Tarek Ramadan of the Muslim Association of Canada. For smaller families of two children or three children we’re trying to look for townhouses, apartments, and for a three bedroom there is really nothing less than say $1,400 or $1,500 a month in Vancouver. A settlement allowance of $785 a month isn’t enough to find anything for families with four children, and even smaller families can’t find anywhere to go. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.