Better Access to Services In the Community (B.A.S.I.C.)

The program´s mandate is to identify gaps in settlement and broader-based services in the community and overcome obstacles that prevent Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) destined to Windsor to access them. It is a fact that Government Assisted Refugees are reluctant to access already available services in the community due to a number of challenges, such as language barrier, different cultural perceptions, inflexibility of the services offered, financial restraints etc. Namely, the needs that have been noted as most pressing for GARs are their emotional and mental health needs, health needs, education/employment needs, and enhanced life skill needs. B.AS.I.C., still a pilot project in its second year of operation, is focused on addressing those needs.

Funding

The program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Eligibility

Pre-approved Convention Refugees* Overseas during the first year of their resettlement in Canada.

*Article 1 A (2) of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention contains a definition of the term "refugee".

A refugee is any person who "owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country or to return there because there is a fear of persecution..."

Note: Once Government Assisted Refugees are landed they become permanent residents of Canada.