An update on our refugee family
24 August 2003Three months ago Mary Okan and her three children have arrived in Canada as landed immigrants (refugees) sponsored by St John's Church. They have all started school in one form or another. Mary is enrolled in a local community school to learn English. Shahinaz (age 11) joined the regular English as a second language, ESL, class at Charles Hulse Elementary School before the school year ended and will continue in Grade 5 in the fall. Yohanna and Bronica (both 17) will go to the ESL school on Rochester St in the fall but they are both going to summer school, as well as receiving some expert coaching from Tony Lovink. Don't be shy about talking to them on Sundays, they need encouragement and practice!
A most important hurdle was passed in mid July when permanent housing was found. Mary and family now have an apartment close to Elizabeth and Marko, so that day to day support is as easy as possible. St John's will assume responsibility for rental payments until April next year, an amount of approximately $9,000.00. A separate donor will provide financial support for day to day living expenses but there may well be the need for us to meet some extraordinary expenses, so a parish budget of $10,000.00 seems appropriate. Mary and her two older children will be working and contributing as soon as they can, so this amount may be less. But realistically this will not happen immediately and they need the financial support of parishioners.
Back in the spring there was an extraordinary response (over 65 pledges) towards the Joint Refugee / Affordable Housing committees project to purchase a townhouse large enough for the extended family (Mary's and Elizabeth's). The family's choice to live in separate apartments and the complications of quick purchase and management of a townhouse were simply too many to be resolved in time to meet Mary's needs. So the decision was made to go for a straightforward rental of an apartment for Mary close to Elizabeth. A less glamorous solution, but not less expensive!
If you pledged assistance earlier, you will have been approached about the new situation individually. If not there is still time to offer your support. The previous goal of 100 donations of $100 still stands. Of course, larger or smaller gifts, in one lump or monthly donations would all be welcomed. The form provided may be placed on the offering plate or sent to the church. All donations should be made payable to St John's Church" with notation "for refugee support". These donations will be added to your annual statement of givings.
If you would like to become more involved in the refugee work at St John's come to the next meeting of the Pastoral Response to Newcomers to Canada (PRNC) group on 8 September, or talk to Rosemary or Peter Anderson, 225 9233.
Our original request made in May 2003:
After many months of working, praying and waiting, Mary Okan and her three children have arrived from Sudan. These refugees are sponsored by St John's Church, and we are fully responsible for them for the coming twelve months as they settle in their new country. This responsibility is being shared by Mary's daughter, Elizabeth Bol (a member of our parish) and her husband, who are already established in Ottawa.
Housing is the main concern. At the moment, Mary and her three children are living with Elizabeth and her husband and daughter in Elizabeth's two bedroom apartment. This cannot continue in the long term.
One solution is simple rental support to the newcomers for twelve months. An alternative, which will be less expensive for the parish and more helpful to the family is to purchase permanent housing. This is the approach that both the Refugee and Affordable Housing groups recommend.
It is proposed that the parish purchase accommodation that will be rented to the extended family. The rental agreement will ensure that the family cover all normal operating costs, and will include a purchase option that will allow the family to buy the property from the parish when they are able to do so, by repaying the original down payment.
The down payment will be an interest free loan. It will be applied to future affordable housing when repaid, and will not be limited to refugee support.
The process is a little complex. Parish Council has given approval to begin planning. Now the project requires parish approval through a special vestry resolution, as well as formal approval by the diocese. We hope that both can be done by mid-June.
The first step is to confirm that we can provide, from donations of parishioners, the initial down payment for a suitable townhouse or duplex. A downpayment of $10,000 will allow us to look at housing in the $140,000 range, which is about the budgetary limit for the family.
Would you be willing to contribute toward the housing of this refugee family? We are asking for 100 parishioners to pledge $100 each. So far, about $1,500 has been pledged.
If you would be willing to pledge your financial support, please fill in the pledge slip below, tear it off and put it in the offering plate or bring it to the parish office.
It is not necessary to include payment until after Vestry approval.
I pledge to contribute $.......... to the Refugee Housing Project if it is approved by Vestry.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
