URGENT: Toronto African Refugee Crisis – YOUR help is needed!

In Toronto, African asylum seekers were left on the streets as all 3 levels of govt abrogated their responsibilities and they were denied access to the shelter system. Community members, organizations, and allies, sprung into action to provide emergency respite. In response to community advocacy, calling out the glaring disparity between the initial lack of response to these African refugees in contrast to the response to asylum seekers from other regions. federal and municipal govts finally responded with a significant commitment of help. BUT the situation is still critical and YOUR help is needed!

As a member of the @Black Community Housing Advisory Table (BCHAT), Black Opportunity Fund has been working with other community leaders to advocate to government, as well as to provide crucial needs such as shelter, food, clothing, mental health support and culturally responsive wrap-around supports. Advocacy efforts continue, demanding that some of the promised government funds be directed to Black community organizations who are at the lead on the crisis response, extending their already stretched resources, due to chronic underfunding.

BOF is directly providing funding to agencies who are leading intake efforts, including Africa Centre for Refugees and Margaret's Housing, for purchase of needed items, and hiring of trauma trained workers. Crucially, we are also funding administration and staffing needs of some of these organizations, to support organizational capacity a critical need which is often overlooked. We urge all funders to also provide dedicated funding to bolster capacity of these under-resourced organizations.

DONATIONS - The following donation items are needed:

- Food (cooked and non-perishable)

- Toiletries

- Pillows, Pillowcases, Blankets

- Footwear

- Feminine hygiene products

- Clothing

- Undergarments

Drop-off Locations:

- Revivaltime Tabernacle Worldwide Ministries, 4340 Dufferin St., North York, ON

- Dominion Church International, 2256 Sheppard Ave. W., North York

Volunteers are needed at Revival Time Tabernacle and Dominion Church International, as well as at community organizations in the coalition. Help is needed for accounting, general administration, website, intake and distribution of supplies, food serving, and general labour.

Financial Donations are urgently needed to support supplies and services for asylum seekers. Donate at https://margarets.ca/donate-online/ and select ‘Toronto African Refugee Crisis’

Thank you to the amazing organizations and individuals who stepped up, despite themselves being stretched to capacity, including OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants , Rwandan Canadian Healing Centre - RCHC and many others. Thank you to the churches who provided housing, the restaurants who are delivering hot meals, and individuals who generously opened up their homes to house asylum seekers.

Organizations in the Coalition contributing to the Emergency Crisis Response include:

●      African Centre For Refugees in Ontario Canada

●     @All Saints Toronto

●      Black Opportunity Fund

●      BlackNorth Initiative

●      Refugee Children Center

●      Christie Refugee Welcome Centre

●     @CP Planning

●     Dominion Church International Toronto

●     @EVA’s Initiative

●      FCJ Refugee Centre

●      Foundation for Black Communities

●      Jamaican Canadian Association

●      Margaret's Housing and Community Support Services

●     Matthew House

●      Network for the Advancement of Black Communities

●     New Nakfa

●      OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants

●     @Revival Time Tabernacle

●      Romero House

●      Rwandan Canadian Healing Centre - RCHC (RCHC)

●      Sistering

●      Sojourn House

●      Street Haven At The Crossroads

●      The Peoples Church

●     @The Toronto Drop-in Network

●      The Network Towards Unity for Health - Moving to New Account (Link in Bio) - St. Michael’s Hospital

●      WORKERS' ACTION CENTRE

●     and many other incredible organizations and individuals

#africanasylumseekers #africanrefugeecrisis #BCHAT #WeBackBlack