The Calgary LGBTQ+ Sponsorship Program assists refugees, persecuted in their home countries due to being LGBTQ+, to settle in Calgary after they have been assisted by the UNHCR or the Canadian Government to flee unsafe countries. We help to create sponsorship groups, find housing or shelter, food, clothing, language training, career development, and all the other things that you will need to get established in Calgary. We provide these supports using our volunteers and when we cannot provide volunteer support, then we can refer for professional settlement services to the Centre for Newcomers.
Key to this project is the establishment of ‘groups of five’ or support/sponsorship circles. These are groups of volunteers that act as hosts to each refugee for a 12-month period. They provide social support and provide instrumental support to help the refugee get to know Canada’s traditions, local places and services, and assist in becoming established in their new home.
This campaign helps to raise the funds necessary to support the groups of 5 to support the refugee for 1 year while becoming resettled.
