Journey Home Community News

Journey Home Community News
Serving Refugee Claimant Families in Metro Vancouver.
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 - 2012
A Refugee Family Welcomes Canadians
By Charlie Buhler
A month ago, I had the privilege of digging up some dirt for a family connected with Journey Home. When
I was asked to help build a raised bed garden in their backyard, I knew very little about them: they were
a single mother and her children, they had an agricultural background in the country they fled from, and
they lived 3 blocks away from me. I didn’t know where they came from, how long they had been here, nor
what their current status was. But, I did know that a garden might make them feel more at home. I love
home, and I love fresh food, and I was glad to help.
While digging up half the lawn, I learned more about the family. I learned where they came from and where
their kids now go to school. I learned about the difficult circumstances and multiple barriers the family
faced when they arrived in Canada. I learned how to play a new schoolyard game that the kids invented in
the field across the road.
Mainly though, I learned about welcome. I went in the hopes of making this family feel more welcome in
MY neighbourhood. Instead, they made me feel welcome in theirs. Although I did help a bit, I was very
quickly labeled by the children, and some of their community friends, as an object of play, rather than a
hired shovel. They didn’t view me as someone who wanted to help them—they viewed me as a guest. And
when guests come to your home, you play with them. Very quickly, I was faced with my own prejudice
about refugees, about immigrants, about newcomers. I thought they were displaced, homeless, and in need
of as much help as possible—and of course, in some ways, that is all true. More than that, however, I met a
reunited family in a new home, excited to share their new life with me. Being welcomed by them was humbling and wonderful.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ JOURNEYHOMECOMMUNITY.CA Please consider supporting us by making a donation online
“Olivet Welcome Houses” to be ready this Summer!
By Jen Galicinski, Housing Coordinator
One of our goals at Journey Home is to support newly arrived refugee
families through the process of finding stable, affordable housing.
Often families arrive with nothing but the clothes
on their backs and a few small bags. Without
knowing the city, the language, or the culture,
it is next to impossible for them to navigate the
housing matrix, especially with limited access to
financial resources and with no personal contacts
in Canada.
families to move into immediately, there has typically been a delay of one or more weeks before we
are able to find any sort housing for them and they
are left in that vulnerable state. The “Olivet Welcome Houses” will enable us to address this need
by providing supported emergency housing immediately upon the arrival of a family.
Up until now, Journey Home has been accompanying refugee families through the process of finding
transitional and permanent housing. However, a
glaring gap in our housing program has been that
of the emergency housing piece.
The houses will each be hosted by a live-in Canadian couple (or two singles) that will be part of the
wider Journey Home family. They will be a welcoming and supportive presence in the houses. They
will seek to create a warm, safe, and hospitable
space that will foster community building with the
families.
Typically, when we meet a new family they are
homeless and feeling quite frightened and unsure
about their surroundings. Often we encounter the
family staying in some sort of shelter, hotel, or in
some cases, sleeping outside. It is in this very vulnerable state that they are most in need of support.
Up until now, as we haven’t had a space for our
We are excited about the potential for these houses, and for the opportunity to extend the radical
hospitality of Jesus in an immediate and practical
way! Do you want to join us in this project? See
page 4 for ideas about how you can be involved!
The two houses (on the
left) are owned by Olivet
Baptist Church (on the
right) in New Westminister
and are being made available to Journey Home for
emergency and short-term
transitional housing for
newly arrived homeless
refugee families.
Journey Home Thrift Report
7337 Edmonds Street Burnaby, BC V3N 1A7
Call: 778.397.1337
Online: www.journeyhomethrift.ca
Things are humming along at Journey Home Thrift! We’re all busy making
the shop a unique thrifting experience. We continue to receive many compliments on the store. Please come in to say hello to our volunteers and to
see our awesome shop!
People like to know that 100% of our profits will be used to support refugee families (through Journey Home
Community) and that we offer a place for refugees to gain volunteer Canadian work experience.
In May, we received the remaining goods from several community garage sale fundraisers. Salmon’s Transfer
donated free hauling of a moving truck full of furniture and housewares after the Royal Lepage fundraising garage sale. The Zimbabwe Gecko Society in White Rock and Hillside Community Church in Coquitlam
allowed us to pick-up goods after their successful fundraisers as well. Thanks! to everyone who helped with
the hauling and sorting of all the loot!
The Journey Home Thrift store has
many volunteer opportunities.
Please contact us if you would like
to work with us in the thrift store.
As we look forward to the eventual warm summer weather, we invite your support. This month we are featuring Outdoor fun. We have lots of sports equipment and camping supplies in the store for sale. In July we’re
having an Around the World feature. Please bring in décor items, souvenirs, maps, globes and ‘other unique
items from your world travel (we’ve had some incredible masks and beer steins donated already).
Also, please remember that the Journey Home Thrift store has an on-going need for good quality housewares
and furniture. We request these items because they sell well (they are necessary for creating a comfortable
and functional home) and because we use donated housewares to prepare start-up kits for newly arrived
refugee families’ basic household needs. We gratefully accept pots and pans, sets of dishes and small
kitchen appliances (toasters, slow cookers, kettles and coffee makers are in high demand). Thank-you!
We have had some recent attention from the media. The Burnaby News Leader printed an article about
thrift store profits and featured a great photo of our store on the front cover! A few months later The Burnaby News Leader printed a lovely photo of Carla (JHT) and Mario (BMO) standing inside the store vault. The
photo was taken when BMO representatives were in the thrift store presenting Journey Home Thrift with a
corporate donation. Little known fact: the store was the original BMO Edmonds Branch. It seems fitting that
the old money vault is now a word vault (our book section).
“Olivet Welcome Houses” - Join Us!
Ways to get involved in this project: apply for the core host positions, join a work team that will help with
renovations, cleaning, and ongoing support, donate home furnishings, artwork and supplies.
For information please email Jen at [email protected].
TEAM
JULY
AUGUST
PERMANENT TEAMS
Woodworking/Carpentry
3 people 4-6 people
Painting (exterior/interior)
3 people
4-7 people
Electrical
2-3 people
2-3 people
Clean-up
2-3 people
2-3 people
Plumbing
NA
2 people
Lawn / Garden / Landscaping
2-4 people
2-4 people
Permanent teams will need
to be assembled for clean-up
and lawn/garden/landscaping
needs. Please indicate if you
would like to help out on a
regular basis.
Paying it Forward
Stories from Journey Home Families
By Laura Mansfield, Support Worker
Mark fled the human rights abuses in his home country and arrived in
Canada in 2010 in search of safety. He was connected with Journey Home
and began receiving housing and resettlement support.
Shortly after, Mark enter the Refugee Transition
Program operated jointly by JHC and BC Housing.
This program enables him to access stable housing
for up to 18 months.
His placement in BC Housing allows Mark and
his 7-year old son to be close to schools, friendly
neighbours, and community resources. He has
been thankful for this gift and demonstrates this
by paying it forward to other families in the complex.
Mark helps other newcomers move furniture, hang
pictures on the wall, and find local resources.
He is quick to offer friendship and other practical
God’s Provision for my Family
supports. When Mark was asked why he helps others, he responds, “It’s just my natural instinct. It is
the right thing to do to help others.”
The BC Housing Refugee Transition program acknowledged Mark’s vulnerability and optimized
his strengths. The stability in housing has allowed
Mark to concentrate on learning English and finding work. He recently acquired a job doing truck
and trailer repair in Surrey.
Journey Home celebrates these successes with
Mark, and we acknowledge the support that BC
Housing has given to many of our refugee families.
Stories from Journey Home Families
By Tracy*, refugee claimant (*name has been changed)
My children and I arrived in Canada from Africa. We sought protection because my life was in danger from a
relationship that had gone bad. We have had so many needs, but each time God has provided for us.
First, the Red Cross housed us at New Hope in Vancouver and after two months there we met Journey Home
Community. JHC settled us in our own apartment and has been a great support to us.
God has also healed me of insomnia. My first days in Canada were characterized by long sleepless nights.
When I caught a little sleep then I would have nightmares. I did not want to take medication, so I trusted God
for healing, and today I sleep like a baby and I no longer have those dreadful dreams.
We thank God for His provision - in both big and small ways. One day we were dressed to go to church but
realized that we didn’t have bus fare. Then the phone rang and a friend asked us if she could pick us up for
church!
We were so amazed by God’s goodness and great love to us. We always write down our needs on paper and
then we pray. Before we know it the whole list is ticked off without us mentioning anything to anyone.
Finally, we thank God that we no longer feel like strangers. Canada is slowly becoming home to us.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE @ JOURNEYHOMECOMMUNITY.CA Please consider supporting us by making a donation online
The BUZZ
Join us for the JHC Summer
Picnic and BBQ
WHEN: Saturday, June 30th / 2012
TIME: 12:00 PM
WHERE: Moody Park, New Westminster
We will meet in the park near the corner of 6th
Ave and 10th Street
In case of rain (Pray for sunny weather!), the picnic
will be re-scheduled one week later,
Saturday July 7th, 2012.
Staffing Updates
On April 1, 2012, Laura Mansfield moved into the
role of Support Worker.
Her contact information remains the same:
[email protected] / 604.612.6930
On May 8, 2012, Journey Home Community was
pleased to welcome Jen Galicinski
to the position of Housing Coordinator.
Jen can be reached by email and phone at:
[email protected] / 604.612.2131
For info, please call the JHC office at 604.568.4892
Ride For Refuge - October 13, 2012
Mark your calendars and save the date! Journey Home is excited to
announce its participation in the 2012 Ride for Refuge. This is our
once-a-year opportunity to join together as a community to raise
awareness and funds for our refugee ministry. Consider riding, volunteering, and contributing financially toward this year’s ride.
rideforrefuge.org is active and ready to take your registration. Every
RIDER who registers before the end of June will have their names
entered to win 1 of 20 extra-soft-and-super-comfy RIDE HOODIES
with the new RIDE look. Second, every TEAM CAPTAIN who registers
their team will have their names registered into a separate draw to
win 1 of 20 of the very same awesome cotton hoodies. Register today!
Opportunities for participation in JHC
Become a Volunteer
Refugee Family Support
Office Help, Event Planning
Journey Home Community’s program is
funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
Please Consider a Financial Donation
Three Ways to Give:
1) online through our website
Get Involved in the 2012 RIDE for REFUGE
2) by cheque sent to our new address
Join the Prayer Team
3) please consider making a monthly donation
Volunteer at Journey Home Thrift
Donate quality items to Journey Home Thrift
THANK YOU for your support!
Registered Charity: 81020 7548 RR0001
HPS funds for the Metro Vancouver designated community
are managed by Metro Vancouver in partnership with the
Vancity Community Foundation and the Regional Steering
Committee on Homelessness.
To Subscribe, or unsubscribe to JHC News:
Journey Home Community
7175 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby BC, V5J 4J3
Phone: 604 568 4892
[email protected]
www.journeyhomecommunity.ca
The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.