While BC Premier David Eby and federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller are debating support for asylum seekers, local groups with strong roots in the Christian community quietly carry on their very practical support of these new arrivals. Eby started off…
Members of several groups and churches will meet for Refugee Housing Crisis: Developing a Response February 3. Dena Nicolai is inviting wide participation, including those who might be a bit skeptical. In my theological tradition, we sometimes talk about “square…
Journey Home Community works with refugee claimants, those who arrive in Canada without sponsors. Also known as asylum seekers, they arrive with few resources and are at grave risk of homelessness. In its June newsletter (slightly modified here), Journey Home…
Kinbrace has been welcoming refugee claimants to Vancouver since 1998 – and now are sharing the core values that have guided them with the broader community. The first of five Becoming Neighbours Workshops will be held March 25, both in…
Kinbrace Refugee Housing & Support has been receiving some very positive attention of late, but co-founder Loren Balisky is happy to share the credit as he reflects on the influence of Layne Daggett, who passed away this summer. Late last…
Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is coordinating this interfaith call to action and welcomes leaders of faith communities and faith‐based organizations to speak out and endorse the statement. For more information on how to endorse, please contact Emilio Rodriguez (ac.jpc@oilime). A…
Kinbrace is the longest-serving dedicated housing provider for refugee claimants in British Columbia. Since 1998 they have offered transitional housing and wrap-around support for about 40 refugee claimants each year. Two houses with a shared back yard are located in…
“What goes on in North America is just a tiny fraction of what goes on in the refugee world.” James Grunau knows what he is talking about. He has spent many years welcoming refugee claimants to Metro Vancouver, while also…
I live in East Vancouver just off Commercial Drive. My house looks like a nondescript ‘Vancouver Special’ from the street, but it’s far from ordinary by our city’s standards. Over the past two years, I have shared my home with…
James Grunau and Loren Balisky have created thriving communities locally (Journey Home and Kinbrace), which share housing – and lives – with refugee claimants. Last week they travelled to Ottawa to appear before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration,…