Black-led coalition that opened doors to asylum seekers calls for more government help, donations

A coalition of Black-led organizations is calling on all three levels of government to work collaboratively with it to provide aid to African asylum seekers now in Toronto.

The Black Community Housing Advisory Table Coalition said in a news release on Friday that it took "substantial steps" to accommodate more than 300 asylum seekers who were sleeping on downtown sidewalks in Toronto outside a homeless support centre. 

Many of the asylum seekers, left outside as different levels of government fought over funding for shelters, are now staying at churches in north Toronto. 

To support them, the coalition said it urgently needs more donations from the community and immediate help from the city, provincial and federal governments.

"It is disheartening to witness African refugees being left on the streets, especially when all levels of government were aware of the need for shelter support to ensure dignified care for refugee claimants and asylum seekers," the coalition said.

"The numbers served continue to grow. Despite the overwhelming demand for urgent shelter, our network faces challenges in sustaining the provision of these services."

The coalition said it would like new federal funding announced this week to go specifically toward African refugee claimants. It also said it hope to be included in government talks about the needs of Black asylum seekers to make sure the "distribution strategy for funding shelter, housing, and support services does not create further barriers to securing permanent housing for Black communities."

The coalition added: "It is imperative that Black communities are welcomed to a seat at the table when planning for their needs."

Earlier this week, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the federal government would allocate $212 million for the Interim Housing Assistance Program, which provides funding on a cost-sharing basis to provinces and municipalities to cover the costs of interim housing for asylum claimants. Fraser said $97 million would be earmarked for Toronto. 

"While we acknowledge Minister Fraser's announcement of $97 million in funding to the City of Toronto through the Interim Housing Assistance Program, it is crucial to clarify the allocation of funds specifically for African refugee claimants and asylum seekers," the coalition said.

In the release, the coalition said its emergency crisis response for asylum seekers is a "temporary solution." Ultimately, the solution is the responsibility of all three levels of government, it said.

Rahul Singh, executive director of GlobalMedic, a humanitarian relief organization, said on Friday the organization is providing food, hygiene items, field hospital cots and linen to Revivaltime Tabernacle church and Dominion Church International Toronto in North York. The hygiene items include soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

GlobalMedic is also working to get laundry services set up and it is trying to secure a couple of washers and dryers. It already has a donation of detergent from Tide. 

"It's terrific that the community is rallying together in Toronto but it does speak to some failures of institutions," Singh said.