Public awareness education is a vital priority for Connecting Grids. Educating the general public, employers, and service providers on immigration and settlement can lead to a better understanding of newcomers’ lived experiences. By gaining knowledge and an understanding of newcomers’ lived experiences, citizens may be more aware of language barriers, international credentials and the assessment process, the difference between permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, refugees, displaced people, and international students, the discrimination that these groups of people face, and be willing to support newcomers more effectively.

Newcomers face unique challenges related to their settlement journey. Some factors that could impact newcomer’s mental health are cultural adjustment, language barriers, discrimination and racism, and trauma. By providing support services and resources to address these challenges, newcomers could successfully navigate their settlement journey and achieve their full potential.

Everyone has the right to shelter and deserves to live in a place that feels like home. Some barriers that newcomers may face when it comes to accessing adequate and affordable housing are lack of Canadian credit history, unfamiliarity with the rental market, housing stock that is both adequate and affordable, discrimination and biases from landlords, or limited income. Having a place to live that feels like home brings a sense of belonging to people which is a key factor in newcomers’ integration and retention in our communities.