Money: Christian Church and Quebec Government

money: Saad, 32, and Altabra, 47, are lucky in that they had the money and their sponsors had the foresight to ask for it upfront to ensure there were funds to help the family get through their first year in Quebec, according to CTV. Many refugees, however, were sponsored by private citizens who meant well but didn't have the means to care for them, according to several community groups interviewed by The Canadian Press. The cash belongs to them because they paid a Christian church $12,000 to come to Canada and are getting the money back in 12 monthly instalments. Moreover, these groups and the Quebec government are now looking to what known as the "13th month" -- when privately sponsored refugees become responsible for their own financial well-being after a year in the province. "Some families had nothing to eat, no furniture, often not even appliances," said Marie Bourret, co-ordinator with CLICS Laval, a volunteer centre that has been helping refugees integrate into the province. "We've had people come to us who had been here five months and didn't even have a refrigerator." Privately sponsored refugees were not meant to be in this situation. Only after one year can refugees unable to find work apply for welfare. "We had schools calling us because kids were coming in with nothing to eat, while others called and said the rent couldn't be paid," Bourret said. As opposed to refugees taken in by the province who are immediately eligible for welfare, privately sponsored individuals and families are supposed to be under the care of their benefactors for 12 months. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.