When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. 

Leviticus 19:33,34 

Unwelcome in Their Own Communities

We know all too well how serious the world refugee crisis is.  In a moment, families that have been rooted in their home communities, are forced to flee for their lives, to find a place of shelter, safety – asylum. 

In our desire to apply a Tenth value of being a place of welcome for people from all different kinds of backgrounds, we seek to be a place of support, advocacy and meaningful friendships for refugees seeking safety and protection in the Lower Mainland. 

The Refugee Situation

By mid-2020, 80 million people were displaced worldwide as a result of conflict, persecution, human rights violations and violence. Now, humanity is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record, including 26.3 million refugees, 4.2 million asylum seekers (Refugee Claimants) and 49.5 million internally displaced or internationally displaced persons. (Stats gathered from UNHCR)  Source Journey Home Community   Although the vast majority of refugees are displaced in countries next door, a small percentage of refugees find their way to Canada.  Although Tenth supports refugees in places like Lebanon and Europe, the bulk of our work is here in Canada. 

There are two types of refugees in Canada. The first type are convention refugees who are supported by Government and Private Sponsorship groups, and are helped with housing and resettlement assistance. There are also refugee claimants (asylum seekers) who do not receive these same supports. They follow complicated resettlement pathways and often have to find their own way through complex government systems.

Tenth Church primarily works with refugee claimants seeking asylum in Canada, with the core purpose of building genuine and enduring relationships with our refugee claimant neighbours. We work primarly with refugee claimants because:  

  • They are the most vulnerable kind of refugee in Canada.
  • They are already in Canada
  • We have a biblical mandate to welcome foreigners and newcomers.  

Tenth helps families and individuals find shelter, access income support, set up their housing, navigate the refugee claim process, establish food security and accompany these newcomers as they access health care, education, language, skills training and employment. Additionally, Tenth helps facilitate vocational mobility and family reunifications. We are able to walk alongside more than 150 refugees seeking asylum in Canada because of the generosity of those who give of their time and resources to welcome newcomers.

Get Involved: Volunteer

We are able develop a growing community because of a dedicated and loving team of volunteers in a context of sharing friendship and offering belonging.

Interested in volunteering? Fill out this application form.  

Get Involved: Other Ways 

  • We help newcomers find housing, access community, education and government support and navigate the refugee claim process. 
  • Stand with newly arriving refugee claimants through giving a one-time gift or a monthly recurring donation. Donate here      
  • Create and deliver a welcome basket
  • Contribute to a community dinner
  • Assist with moving and donation management
  • Help with employment opportunities
  • Donate household items, clothing, or furniture
  • Drive newcomers to appointments 
  • Participate in an event or holiday celebration
  • Go on a walk with newcomers
  • Provide opportunities for English conversation
  • Invite newcomers to your house for a meal 
  • Open up a bedroom or two for newcomers

Events

Many Sundays afternoons throughout the year we have community building events that include newcomers and Tenth friends. Email refugeesupport@tenth.ca to get more info on events or other ways to get involved. 

Questions? email refugeesupport@tenth.ca

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