January 17, 2019—Surrey, B.C.—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works with many partners in the delivery of services to newcomers to Canada, and supports their integration into Canadian communities. IRCC is actively working to improve these settlement services through the Service Delivery Improvements funding stream and will be providing funding of $798,806 to Options Community Services Society to help enhance these important services.
Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Surrey-Newton, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Options Community Services Society is partnering with social design and research firm InWithForward to develop specialized service delivery models for newcomer seniors and newcomers with disabilities (including physical, developmental and mental). These vulnerable individuals make up a growing population that has traditionally been difficult to reach, understand, and support. Service provider organizations have identified gaps in current funding to address specific needs they have, such as help overcoming isolation, accommodations for accessibility, and mobility support. This project will reach out to these newcomer clients to participate in focus groups and test out experimental methodologies to address the barriers many face in accessing settlement services.
IRCC's Service Delivery Improvement Fund is a dedicated funding stream of over $30 million per year, devoted to service delivery improvement, innovation and experimentation to continue to find better ways to deliver services to newcomers, meet the needs of newcomer clients and support the integration process.
"I'm proud that the Government of Canada is working with organizations like Options Community Services Society to provide high-quality settlement services for newcomers across the country. Finding new and better ways to help newcomers succeed in their journey benefits all Canadians, by strengthening our labour force and the economy."
– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
"Thanks to the Service Delivery Improvement fund, projects such as Options Community Services Society's will improve IRCC's understanding of newcomer needs and support their successful integration into Canadian communities."
– Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Surrey-Newton
Quick facts
SDI funding is a dedicated stream within the Settlement Program of almost $150 million over five years. The funding was allocated to the Department through the 2017 Immigration Levels Plan, and is devoted to testing new approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Program.
Following the first Expression of Interest process for SDI launched in fall 2017, IRCC is now funding over 100 projects across the country. All projects will be complete by March 31, 2021.
There are 7 funding streams under the SDI: language acquisition; employment; youth supports; harnessing volunteers and supporting capacity building in the settlement sector; pay for performance; newcomer well-being and programming to support vulnerable clients; and research and analysis to drive innovation and understand the user experience.
