Starting over in a new country is never easy. For Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs), the journey begins with leaving behind everything familiar—friends, family, and the comfort of home. But before they can begin building their new lives, they need one essential thing: a place to call home.
That’s where our Resettlement and Integration Services step in. Despite Calgary’s competitive housing market, our dedicated three-member housing team—Dadkhuda Pahlawan, Eghbal Kayadan and Hozan Aljinko—has been working tirelessly to move GAR clients out of temporary accommodations like CCIS’s refugee reception house, Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre (MCRC) and designated hotels into permanent homes.
From April to December 2024 alone, the team successfully placed 647 individual clients (237 families) into permanent housing. This monumental effort involved viewing 452 properties—an average of 2.5 viewings per day—and conducting countless move-in inspections. On average, families found permanent housing within 40 days of arriving at our reception facilities.
However, the process is far from straightforward. Only 1 in 4 families accept the first unit they view, with some requiring up to nine showings before settling on a home. Cultural differences also play a role; many GARs come from regions where basements are used solely for storage, making basement suites a less appealing option. Additionally, finding accessible homes for clients with disabilities or pairing single clients to share housing adds another layer of complexity.
“Managing client expectations is one of our biggest challenges,” says Dadkhuda, who has been with CCIS for nearly 25 years. “Educating them about what to expect in Calgary’s housing market is critical.”
The majority of GARs we’ve housed over the past nine months have come from Syria, followed by Afghanistan and Myanmar. Most families have chosen Calgary’s Northeast neighborhoods—Falconridge, Martindale, Taradale, and Saddle Ridge—as their new communities. Average rents during this period were $2,109 for houses, $1,597 for apartments, and $2,139 for townhouses.
Despite the challenges, our housing team continues to go above and beyond to ensure GAR clients find not just houses but homes—a foundation for their fresh start in Canada.
Learn more about our resettlement services here: https://ccisab.ca/resettlement-and-integration-services/
For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
