GRANT STORY - SOMETIMES YOU NEED HELP TO START OVER
Starting something new can be daunting. A little help goes a long way, whether you are starting kindergarten, a career, or life in a new country. The Canadian Red Cross Society’s First Contact Program helps refugees get on the right track in metro Vancouver. Many refugees are starting over with nothing. They can arrive with their former lives in tatters, sometimes distressed or demoralized from transient years in refugee camps. Getting the information they need, when they need it, can be a lifesaver. First Contact, with the support of a $40,000 grant from Vancouver Foundation, is creating a 24-hour multilingual helpline for refugees. Information about housing, filing refugee claims, finding work and more is only a phone call away, and it will make a world of difference in their new lives.
DATA
Graduation rate lower for ESL students
The high school graduation rate for ESL students was 83% in 2006/07, below the 93% graduation rate for the overall Grade 12 population. This declined from previous years when the graduation rate for ESL students ranged from 89% to 94%. Source
Immigrant incomes lag
Immigrant incomes in metro Vancouver continue to fall behind those of the Canadian-born population. Recent immigrants to metro Vancouver (arriving between 2000 and 2004), with or without degrees, earn less than half of people born in Canada. Immigrants that have been here longer fare a little better, earning about 68% of the median income of a Canadian-born person. Source
Child care costs increase
The cost of child care can be a barrier for parents wishing to enter the labour force. While government programs make child care more accessible for some, families still pay the majority of child care costs.
Child care expenses in the city of Vancouver continued to rise between 2005 and 2007. The cost for out-ofschool care (before and after school) for 6 to 12-year olds increased nearly 50%, while licensed family care for infants, toddlers, and 3 to 5-year olds increased 13%, 14% and 17% respectively. Source
Immigrants face higher unemployment
In metro Vancouver, the unemployment rate for immigrants who entered the country in the last five years is twice that of the Canadian-born population. As immigrants become more established, the gap in unemployment rates diminishes but is never eliminated.
In 2006, the unemployment rate for immigrants arriving to Canada between 2001 and 2006 was 11%; the rate for immigrants who had been in Canada more than five years was 7%, while the unemployment rate for the non-immigrant population was 5%. Source
Youth employment improves
Transitioning from school to work can be pivotal for youth. Jobs can provide financial support for further study. On the other hand, when the job market is strong, youth may choose work over further education. Metro Vancouver youth age 15-24 had an unemployment rate of 7% in 2007, down from a high of 17% in 1987. Source
