BECOME A VOLUNTEER HOST AND HELP UKRAINIAN FAMILIES FIND THEIR FIRST HOME IN CANADA!

We need your help to secure a home for Ukrainian newcomers to Canada. Become a volunteer host and help Ukrainian families find a safe place to live and start their new life in Canada as soon as possible.

If you are interested in hosting a newcomer family, download the Housing Host Form here and send the completed form to housinghost@costi.org. A COSTI representative will connect with you right away to review the form with you.

Following the review of your application:

• A COSTI Housing/Settlement Counsellor will contact you to schedule a site visit to assess amenities.
• COSTI will facilitate a Vulnerable Sector Screening for all persons living in the home over the age of 18 years at no cost.
• A Letter of Commitment will be shared and signed between the family and COSTI.

The last step in the process is to welcome the newcomer family! We will schedule a convenient date with you to greet the family and one of our Housing/Settlement Counsellors who will be accompany the family,

Confidentiality

Please note that your personal information will only be shared with the family you are hosting and for the purpose of case management.

COSTI welcomes and appreciates your support!

ABOUT COSTI’S HOUSING HOST PROGRAM FOR UKRAINIAN NEWCOMERS

COSTI is partnering with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and other community organizations to provide services for Ukrainian newcomers fleeing the conflict in their country. The majority are single women with children who are vulnerable and need assistance with immediate accommodation and settlement-related services including mental health and employment.

COSTI has taken on the responsibility of organizing accommodation for Ukrainian newcomers and essential orientation and referral services in the Greater Toronto Area. A team of COSTI Housing Workers and Settlement Counsellors are ready and available to support the families.

All Ukrainian newcomer families are received by the Canadian Red Cross, given a welcome package, and transferred to either a settlement organization or to COSTI. Families are then matched by COSTI with vetted volunteer hosts for accommodation.

Once settled and feeling comfortable in their new home, families will receive short-term support with their immediate needs: help with enrolling their children in school; medical, health and financial needs, information and referral services to help access employment opportunities and the labour market and English as a Second Language classes. Our Settlement Workers also lend their support in helping Ukrainian newcomers become familiar with their new neighbourhood and community supports.

COSTI’s Housing Host Program for Ukrainian newcomers is offered at no cost and is funded by the Accommodation and Orientation for Newcomer Ukrainians Project is funded by Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC). the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, City of Toronto and United Way Greater Toronto.