Identifying appropriate housing, finding what is affordable and solving issues around lease negotiation are important to addressing the housing needs of those we sponsor. At a recent workshop in May, sponsors gained some new ideas for their tool kit that will go a long way to assisting in sponsorship settlement challenges.
We learned about community mapping from Cecilia Scoles, an expert in how to do it based on the work she did for her Master’s degree. She explained how to develop a sustainable housing pipeline by getting to know your community. Not just where housing is and the people who control acceptance of new tenants, but also important things like transportation, grocery stores and other essential information about the community in which the newcomer will live.
Jonathan Ingall, a real estate agent, introduced us to how to work with people like him in finding appropriate housing along with explaining the services real estate agents provide. Jon helped us think more about a housing search by raising issues many of us do not regularly think about.
And, then there is the issue of lease negotiation. With the help of the Arab Community Centre of Toronto, I was privileged to present what we need to know and consider before signing any lease. We learned about the legal implications of being a guarantor versus a co-signer of a lease. And, we were reminded that in this current market we might be able to negotiate some additional things like a month’s free rent, including utilities, free parking, among others. Want to gain some new skills, visit our PRSN website at refugeesponsornet.ca to hear all the presentations, and download the practice guideline based on this workshop. It will be well worth it as you seek housing for those you are about to welcome.