Housing and the resettlement experiences of refugee claimants in Hamilton, Ontario

Abstract

While existing research has explored refugees’ experiences with resettlement, few have focused specifically on refugee claimants who arrive in their destination country with limited access to settlement services compared to other entry categories. Using qualitative research techniques, this study seeks to explore the experiences of refugee claimants as they search for housing in the medium-sized Canadian city of Hamilton, Ontario. More specifically, this article explores the successes and challenges refugee claimants’ face in the housing market. Through interviews with service providers, volunteers, and refugee claimants themselves, refugee claimants face additional barriers that limit their success in the housing market beyond cost and housing affordability that are common experiences faced by everyone regardless of immigration status. Based on the interviews, two main themes were identified, including strict rental applications and structural barriers faced by refugee claimants. Taken together, these barriers hinder a refugee claimants’ ability to access housing and often result in their exclusion from housing.