The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of B.C. (AMSSA) celebrates and congratulates Minister Anne Kang and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for significantly boosting funding for settlement services in British Columbia. The funding has been increased from $6 million to $25.6 million annually, marking a historic achievement in supporting newcomers across British Columbia.
Katie Crocker, AMSSA CEO, commented, “AMSSA welcomes this much-awaited funding increase to settlement services. As the third-highest province in Canada for newcomer arrivals, the BCSIS program is pivotal in enabling the settlement sector to better support newcomers with temporary status in B.C. This funding will be crucial in assisting temporary residents on their pathway to permanent residency”.
The increased funding for settlement services will enable organizations to offer more comprehensive services and build their capacity to support refugee claimants, international students, temporary foreign workers, and displaced persons, including Ukrainians. It will create more welcoming communities and ensure that all newcomers receive the necessary support for successful integration into their new communities.
It is poised to improve existing support services, enhance workforce readiness for newcomers, extend current outreach efforts, and create more capacity in the settlement system while mitigating poverty and homelessness.
“By enhancing the BCSIS program’s resources, we can provide improved support to temporary residents and naturalized citizens as they embark on their journey of social and economic integration and empowerment,” Katie added.
The new and expanded settlement program is scheduled for launch in Spring 2024, serving an anticipated 40,000 clients annually.
About AMSSA:
AMSSA is a province-wide association that strengthens over 80 member agencies and hundreds of community stakeholder agencies serving immigrants and newcomers in British Columbia. With a focus on co-creating the conditions for success, AMSSA provides its members with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to fulfill their mandates.