Individuals and families fleeing the conflict in Ukraine may face a number of challenges as they work to build a home in Alberta. To assist Ukrainians with financial needs, a new program will launch July 25 to provide up to six months of support for basic expenses like food, clothing and shelter.
“Millions of Ukrainians have had to drop everything and flee in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion. Alberta’s government moved quickly to offer access to health care, child care, education, emergency financial funding, and guidance to get official documents and find work. Now we will do even more to help them rebuild their lives here in Alberta with these expanded social supports for Ukrainians seeking refuge here.”
“Ukrainians who are fleeing the violence in their country are not alone. By helping with the costs to cover basic needs, we can help Ukrainian newcomers get settled and rebuild. Alberta welcomes Ukrainians and we stand with you during this time.”
With many arrivals expected to be single-parent families and families who have left everything behind, Ukrainian parents can also apply for six months of funding to cover the cost of licensed child care through the Child Care Subsidy Program. Children must be 12 years old or younger to be eligible. Full details on all supports are available at alberta.ca/Ukraine.
“By helping with the cost of child care and supporting access to quality child-care programs for Ukrainian parents arriving in Alberta, we are ensuring their children will be safe and that families will have the help they need as they build a new life in our province.”
“We are grateful to Alberta’s government for the financial income support. This is definitely an additional support that was not available to Ukrainian newcomers prior. Everything counts and this will definitely help contribute to the success of the Ukrainian nationals integrating successfully into Canadian society.”
Alberta’s government continues to accelerate the assessment of applications for permanent residency made by Ukrainian nationals and waive fees through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
Ongoing assistance from Alberta’s government and partnering settlement agencies is helping to ensure Ukrainians arriving in Alberta can:
- access health coverage
- enrol children in K-12 schools in their new communities
- get an Alberta identification card, including a driver’s licence
- find licensed child care
- access resources that can help find work and build careers through Alberta Supports centres
- access community adult learning programs to improve financial and literacy skills
- access a reference guide at alberta.ca/Ukraine in English and Ukrainian, with detailed information on resources and supports that can help Ukrainian newcomers settle into their new communities.
For more information on how Alberta is supporting Ukrainian newcomers, visit alberta.ca/Ukraine.
Quick facts
- Alberta is home to more than 369,000 people of Ukrainian descent.
- Temporary financial support: Support consists of core monthly benefits and one-time issue benefits for special or emergency situations. Displaced Ukrainians would receive the same benefit rates as other Albertans in similar financial circumstances.
- Child care subsidy: Eligible applicants must be Ukraine nationals and have a specially issued Alberta Health Care Card with an expiry date. Children must attend a licensed child care program in Alberta, be 12 years of age or younger and not yet be attending Grade 7.
- Overall support: To date, Alberta’s government has provided the following assistance to Ukraine and its citizens since the conflict with Russia began:
- $2.2 million for settlement and language services delivered across the province
- $1 million to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada Ukraine Foundation, to help coordinate and deliver humanitarian aid
- $5 million to the Ukrainian World Congress to equip 5,000 members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force with defensive equipment
- $5 million to the Canada Ukraine Foundation for additional humanitarian aid
- $350,000 to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council for their campaign coordinating the air shipment of first aid and defensive equipment to Ukraine