The Huron County Local Immigration Partnership is sharing the results of a recent survey of newcomers to the community.
The partnership shared the results of the survey, which was conducted by the Community Research Ethics Board.
Forty newcomers who had been in Canada for less than 6 years took part, from 10 countries of origin.
There were 10 key findings in the research, which included concerns over housing, from issues with finding housing to relying on shared accommodations, to being able to find a home for families compared to individuals.
There were also issues such as not having access to government sources when searching for housing information and many were unfamiliar with social housing support and tenant rights.
Many shared that they enjoyed living in smaller communities for the sense of safety, connection with nature, and a slower pace of life compared to urban areas.
Respondents also said they value support from community members, such as receiving rides or celebrating holidays together, which foster a sense of belonging.
In response to these research findings, the Immigration Partnership is working with community partners and newcomers to identify solutions for housing concerns.
The partnership will be working this summer and fall to present the findings with newcomer participants who will also be invited to share their ideas to create solutions and prioritize responses.
