This funding will provide further emergency accommodations for the next four months to supplement support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The new funds will increase the number of hotel rooms available to Ukrainians when they arrive in Alberta and cover transportation costs to hotels when evacuees arrive in Calgary and Edmonton. Additional hotel rooms will be available in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
Since the war in Ukraine began, more than 28,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Alberta.
“Alberta’s government is providing additional funding to ensure that Ukrainian evacuees have a safe place to stay when they first arrive in Alberta. This new funding comes directly from consultations with community partners that flagged the need for increased supports for evacuees. I will continue to advocate for more funding from the federal government to ensure Ukrainians have all the supports they need to settle in Alberta.”
“This funding will provide critical help to Ukrainian newcomers with immediate needs upon arrival, and it will help ease pressures on Ukrainian families and the agencies that are supporting them.”
Alberta’s government has provided supports to ensure evacuees can successfully settle in the province and will continue to step up where there is a need. Continued funding through Budget 2023 will go toward much-needed supports in settlement, language, education, food security, social services, housing and financial benefits. The government appreciates the work of the many agencies that dedicate their resources to supporting Ukrainian newcomers and that keep the government informed of the newcomers’ needs.
"This funding is a huge relief for all the Ukrainians overwhelmed upon arrival, and for the agencies helping them. This allows us to help people stay somewhere safe while they figure out a plan to get on their own two feet – now they can do it even faster. There is still going to be a need for people and companies to rally and help newcomers – that's what has got us through this past year and allowed us to serve almost 10,000 newcomers. This government funding will make it all more manageable, especially because the terms are flexible to meet the needs of the families when they need the help.”
“We are elated that so many Ukrainian evacuees will be helped with this announcement. This support will go a long way to eliminate the gap that existed in immediate temporary accommodation. We know that it will help to mitigate unnecessary homelessness among the evacuees and help remove evacuees from shelters, the street, and from staying overnight in airports.”
Alberta’s government will continue to work with immigrant-serving and community organizations to identify where supports are most needed.
Quick facts
- Since the war began, more than eight million Ukrainians have fled their country with more than 28,000 arriving in Alberta.
- A number of measures have been put in place to assist and support Ukrainian newcomers. They include:
- enrolment in the health system and health benefits coverage
- coverage for the cost of the immigration medical exam X-ray
- enrolment in K-12 schools, with funding for providing language, mental health and social supports to Ukrainian children
- enrolment in licensed child-care facilities
- providing access to Alberta’s child-care subsidy program
- providing one-time emergency benefits to those with limited income and assets
- providing eligible Ukrainian evacuees greater access to temporary financial support for basic expenses like food, clothing and shelter under the Ukrainian Evacuee Emergency Financial Supports and Benefits program
- access to Alberta Supports Centres and Contact Centre for information about social services in Ukrainian or through translation services, and prioritized service at in-person centres
- access to employment supports
- providing mentorship support under the Alberta Immigrant Mentorship grant
- waiving fees and prioritizing the assessment of permanent residency applications made by Ukrainian nationals through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program