Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP)
The Newcomers´ Settlement Program assists newcomers who are settling, adjusting and contributing to life in Canada and Durham Region. This program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI).
MCI funds the Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) which supports the early and effective settlement of newcomers to Ontario. The goal of the NSP is to help newcomers fully engage in all aspects of Canadian life, social, economic, political and cultural, and to maximize the benefits of their participation and contribution to the Canadian society.
Our Services are available in 3 different languages including:
We can arrange for interpreters for other languages if needed.
Eligibility
If you are a refugee Claimant, a landed immigrant, a visitor, a Work Permit Holder, a Student Visa Holder, a Minister’s Permit Holder or a Canadian Citizen, then you are eligible to receive the NSP services.
The Newcomers’ Settlement Program Counselor can…
Provide you with information, referral and advice about the following issues:
- Housing (finding affordable housing, subsidized housing; landlord-tenant issues, etc)
- Legal Issues (Referrals to Durham Legal Clinic, Referrals to Lawyers, etc.)
- Citizenship and Immigration Issues (Filling out forms and applications i.e., sponsorship Applications, citizenship Applications, Invitation Letters, etc.), changes in regulations; updates of refugee law; etc)
- Financial Issues (dealing with financial issues such as income taxes, assessing your eligibility for income support or other social services, Debt problems, etc.)
- Education (finding and enrolling in schools and other training programs, Credential Assessment)
- Language classes (LINC and ESL, etc.)
- Life Skills (adjusting to being a new immigrant through short term adjustment counseling, childcare, or finding a family doctor, coping with anxiety, stress, depression, etc.)
- Employment (searching for a job through employment counseling and learning job search skills and referrals to different employment agencies)
- Transportation
- Community Access (becoming oriented to Durham Region and its local resources and facilities)
- Advocacy (understanding your rights, entitlements, and responsibilities, as well as complaint procedures)
- Health Issues
- Applying for many types of identification cards (PR card, OHIP, Driving License) and documents, referrals to and setting appointments with other community and social services, professional appointments (i.e. to the doctors, court, lawyers, and Government agencies)
- Assist you with document and referral translation services.
How Can You Use Our Services?
You can make an appointment to meet with the NSP counselor by calling 905-686-2661 Ext. 112, or by email at rabdullah@cdcd.org.
Cost
There is no fee to participate or use our services.
Success Stories
1. An NSP client wanted to renew his Jordanian passport. When he applied for it, he was asked to get a certificate showing that he was not a citizen of Canada. They did not consider his Permanent Residence card as enough proof of him not being a Canadian Citizen yet. He came to the NSP Worker who helped fill the application and send it over.
The issue then went into the processing stage (the length given to him was about 8 months). He then came back requesting an urgent processing because he had to travel as soon as possible. So the NSP Worker got in touch with the MP’s office to try to expedite the process. After a few days he got a phone call advising that his application had been tagged as “urgent” and will be processed as a priority application.
The client was extremely thankful because he wanted to travel to Jordan soon to get married.
2. The NSP worker was called by the Muslim Welfare Centre to see a client who was a Convention Refugee from Iraq and who did not speak a word in English. After meeting her, the NSP Worker (speaking to her in Arabic) discovered that the lady had no money and no place to live because she received government assistance (money) only once. When the woman’s papers and information were verified it came to light that she had originally landed in Quebec and left for Ontario without any authorization from the Quebec Government. That was the reason her file was closed.
The NSP worker got down to work right away. She made the necessary calls and inquiries and was able to convince CIC to reopen her file under Ontario rules. That being done the Refugee was given a choice of residence and she selected Scarborough as she has friends there. A taxi was arranged to pick her up from Whitby and send her to a shelter in Scarborough. Later our NSP Worker received a call thanking her for her help as the woman is now settled in a one bed room apartment and receiving assistance. She was, none the less, advised to work on her English language skills.