The Mobile Settlement Services in Shelters program at West Neighbourhood House provides critical support to immigrants and refugees who are homeless, living in shelters, or at risk of losing their housing. Through this program, staff assist participants with accessing legal aid, education and career opportunities, language classes, housing applications, income support, and more.
The program’s goal is to stabilize participants’ situations and provide ongoing support until they have the resources and tools needed to thrive in Canada.
Darioosh Salahshoor, a Settlement Worker, plays a vital role in this process by visiting shelters to connect with newcomers in need of assistance. “I just listen. Often relying on my past experience, I can understand the problem that the person is having, and I explain to them why they are having this problem,” he says.
A significant part of his work involves helping refugees navigate the legal system to establish their status in Canada, a process that can take years. “I work with them during the legal process, which could include hiring a lawyer, organizing their story as a first step, and then supporting the client on submitting documents. We help the client with obtaining their Permanent Resident (PR) status as well,” he explains.
Darioosh highlights the challenge newcomers face with documentation: “People want to change their lives by coming here but documentation is what is stopping them from changing their life. When you know how to navigate the system you could help them. They could change their lives.”
Many of the newcomers encountered in city shelters have endured significant hardships in their home countries. “They often have trauma. Some of it is very serious. And we need to deal with that. We need to connect them with the support they need. I know that staff at the House are working from the heart,” Darioosh shares.
The program deals with complex and diverse cases, often requiring multiple forms of support. Staff frequently refer participants to internal programs tailored to their specific needs. Darioosh emphasizes the benefits of these internal referrals: “When you refer clients [to programs] within the House, it’s better because you maintain that connection. I think the strength of our team is the high number of clients who stay with us.”
Each case is unique, often necessitating collaboration across multiple agencies. West Neighbourhood House works closely with shelter staff and partner organizations on issues such as housing and employment, providing a comprehensive network of support for newcomers.
One day, Darioosh encountered a familiar face at a shelter—someone who recognized him from their past interactions. “This person was a refugee and an educated person from Uganda. I helped them to do some volunteer work (at the Meeting Place). I helped them to go to adult school to get an English language certificate. After that, they were able to continue their education without having to pass an English test.”
Later, Darioosh discovered that the participant had secured employment at the same shelter where they had met. “I was so happy to learn that he was now the shift manager in the shelter,” Darioosh remarks.
Reflecting on the journey, Darioosh highlighted the key role of two programs in the participant’s success: “Two programs helped him. One was Settlement and the second was the Meeting Place. He volunteered with us for a year and that helped him get the job at the shelter. He was doing a similar job in Uganda but working with youth. He was able to learn through his volunteer work with the Meeting Place. There are a lot more examples like this.”
In addition to supporting the participant, Darioosh also assisted the individual’s family in immigrating to Canada by helping with their paperwork and guiding them through the legal process.