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In a context where the number of people displaced by war, persecution, violence, and human rights violations is increasing significantly in the world, Québec is a land of welcome for many people in need of asylum.
Access to resources is sometimes difficult for these people with precarious immigration status. This is why it is important for the CSAI to offer them support and guidance at various stages of their journey.
The CSAI is committed to offering support to immigrants, regardless of their immigration status. Over the years, we have been invested in providing support to people seeking asylum. Here are some examples:
Work permit operation
In 2017-2018, following the arrival of many people seeking asylum, the CSAI mobilized and, without financial support, helped 138 people apply for a work permit, an essential document for them to find a job and begin their integration. To this day, the CSAI continues to support asylum seekers in renewing their work permit.
Housing search assistance
In 2018, the CSAI was given the mandate from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to offer housing search assistance to asylum seekers. Since that date, the CSAI has offered information, support and assistance in this area to hundreds of people annually. Advice is offered regarding housing search strategies, the rights and responsibilities of tenants and owners and the role of the Tribunal administratif du logement.
Special program for asylum seekers during COVID-19
In 2020, the CSAI was mandated by the MIFI to support people seeking asylum as part of the Special Program for Asylum Seekers during COVID-19. This was a special program that allowed asylum seekers who worked on the front lines during the first wave of COVID-19 with the sick and the elderly to apply for permanent residence.
This was a complex process, involving several steps and people were often met several times. More than 300 people have been supported by the CSAI as part of this program.
Employment integration of asylum seekers in the tourism sector
The CSAI is one of the organizations offering support to job seekers wishing to participate in the Projet-pilote pour l’intégration en emploi de demandeurs d’asile dans les entreprises touristiques, offered by the Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en tourisme (Quebec Council for Human Resources in Tourism – CQRHT).
This 3-year (2023-2026) research and innovation pilot project, funded by the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, offers services and professional support for asylum seekers in Québec. This project aims to help 1,000 participants per year integrate and maintain employment in the province’s tourism sector.