Neo-liberalizing social service provision: Reactions and responses to the limits and constraints of housing and settlement services for refugees in Toronto, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article engages with the impacts of neoliberalism on the experiences of social service providers working with refugees searching for shelter and affordable housing in Toronto, Canada. The 1990s in Toronto consisted of intergovernmental restructuring, which downloaded federal housing responsibilities onto provincial and municipal governments. Additionally, changes made to settlement funding had direct impacts on non-profit organizations serving immigrants and refugees. This devolution and decentralization of Canada's housing and settlement services have led to a complex hybrid of informal and formal social networks. Based on semi-structured interviews with service providers, this study reveals institutional gaps in Toronto's housing and settlement support models. This paper enriches scholarly debates on (1) neoliberal cities, (2) social service provision for immigrants and refugees, and (3) informal social networks, by engaging with critical feminist frameworks that highlight the importance of a profound understanding of the types of informal networks developed by social service providers.