Partner Post: Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership2 min read

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Since the first settlers arrived several hundred years ago, Waterloo Region has been a community of immigration. This continues today as a growing number of immigrants and refugees move here from around the world. In fact, the May 2021 census reported that over a quarter of the region’s population has immigrated to Canada.

There are serious challenges when it comes to having enough housing for everyone. In addition, some immigrants and refugees experience unique barriers when seeking housing due to their lack of credit or rental histories and references, employment status, discrimination and more. One and sometimes several of these factors combined mean the difference between getting a home or not for people new to Waterloo Region. And this is a place where we want everyone to have an affordable and appropriate home.

The Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership works together with community partners to create the conditions for immigrants to succeed and help build a welcoming, dynamic community. We are a collaboration of over 110 local residents and representatives of more than 60 immigrant and community service, business, municipal, post-secondary and ethno-cultural organizations.

As a community, we can do a lot to welcome newcomers and refugees in our region. Making adequate, affordable and appropriate housing available is vital to this. Inspired by the outpouring of community support during the resettlement of Syrian refugees in 2016, the Immigration Partnership has celebrated and recognized local landlords who have made extra efforts to provide affordable housing solutions for immigrants and refugees with the annual Newcomer Landlord Award.

The 2022 Awards were presented on Nov. 22 to six recipients as part of the Region of Waterloo’s National Housing Day Celebration. Honourees included Lisa Weiler Haskins and Richard Hamming; Heidi Sproul; the Woolwich Community Health Centre; Open Homes KW, Moe Hansrod (KW Property Management); and Chinh Pham, Tho Tran and Tony Pham. Read their amazing stories of solidarity and generosity here. 

Chosen by a selection committee of partners from many organizations, the 2022 Newcomer Landlord Award winners were celebrated for helping the newest members of our regional communities find a home. Every year, this Award shows that everyone in Waterloo Region has the capacity to positively impact someone else’s life.  

Everyone has a role to play in welcoming newcomers to the region! We invite other landlords to consider helping create a caring community that supports them!

Tara Bedard

Executive Director

Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership