VANCOUVER — More than three-quarters of the Syrian refugees in B.C. have been able to access English classes, but just 17 per cent have been able to find work in the year since they arrived, according to a report released Friday.
The Immigrant Services Society of B.C. surveyed 300 Syrian refugee families by phone and 60 Syrian refugee youths last month. All of those interviewed were government-assisted refugees who arrived in Metro Vancouver between Nov. 4, 2015 and Feb. 28, 2016.
Those surveyed overwhelmingly expressed their gratitude to Canada and its people for taking them in. They were particularly happy with their children’s experience in the school system.
Here’s what Syrian refugees had to say about their first year in B.C.
Language
The vast majority (81 per cent) arrived with either no English or beginner-level English. More than three quarters (76 per cent) said they were attending government-funded English classes. Of those who weren’t, half were on a waiting list ranging from a month to a year. The majority (55 per cent) were on a waiting list of between one and three months.
Employment
Fewer than one in five (17 per cent) were employed on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Those that were had found work in manufacturing, construction and trades (59 per cent) or food, retail and hospitality (31 per cent). Close to two-thirds (64 per cent) of those who were not employed said they were actively looking for work.
A number of barriers to employment were identified, including:
• Transportation
• Lack of local work experience
• Lack of English language skills
• Not knowing how to look for a job in Canada
• Lack of child care
Health
Two-thirds of respondents reported excellent, very good or good physical health. On the question of mental health, while most responded that they were happy (56 per cent) or very happy (14 per cent), one in three reported feeling sad or depressed. Even those who reported being happy, however, were often deeply concerned about the well-being of family or friends still in danger in Syria or in refugee camps. Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) said they had immediate family overseas, including spouses, children, parents, siblings and grandparents, that they want to bring to Canada.
This family reunification theme emerged from the survey as one of the most pressing needs, authors Chris Friesen and Kathy Sherrell wrote in the report.
“Parents spoke of the need to bring children to help support them as they aged, adult children of the need to bring adult siblings to provide support to their children/parents and adult children concerned about their parents.”
Housing
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) said their housing is comfortable for their family. Of those that said their housing was not comfortable, the most common reasons were the high cost of rent, the age and cleanliness of the house or that it was too small for the family. Forty-one per cent of Syrian families had six people or more.
Income security
Another main concern of Syrian refugees in B.C. is the looming shift from federal to provincial support, which occurs in the 13th month after arrival if a person has not found work.
While federal support rates reflect provincial income assistance levels — which have not changed in B.C. since 2007 — there are two important differences, the report said. Federal assistance includes a transportation allowance that is meant to allow refugees to access community resources, including agencies that provide help with employment searches. This is not included in provincial assistance.
The other key difference is that refugees on federal assistance can earn up to 50 per cent of their monthly income support payments without penalty. Any money earned on provincial income assistance is clawed back dollar for dollar.
Syrian refugees are generally aware of these changes and worried about how they will support themselves, not unlike non-refugees on provincial income assistance, the report noted. Some Syrian refugee youth said they have already dropped out of high school to find work to support their family, with the hope that they will one day be able to return.
