Evaluation of HOST
3.0 Overall Success of the Program
Summary of Findings:
There is overall agreement that Host has positive impacts
for those who access it. All lines of evidence support high levels of
client satisfaction. Host is considered effective in meeting newcomer
needs and expectations to a significant extent. Impacts were reported
with respect to providing social support, friendship, and expanding social
networks. Other reported benefits of Host include improved access to
services, increased self-confidence, and improved communication skills.
Host volunteers report that Host has met their expectations and that
they have benefited from the program in terms of improved awareness and
understanding of other cultures. Limited reach hampers the effectiveness
of Host, however.
3.1 Host Meeting Needs and Expectations of Clients
Overall, the evaluation found that the Host program is appropriate and useful to newcomers. All lines of inquiry support that Host is a program of considerable merit that meets clients’ needs and expectations to a significant extent. Ninety (90) percent of survey respondents agree that the services offered as part of Host are appropriate given the needs of newcomers. All focus group clients indicated that the program met most of their expectations. They noted that Host was important to them because it provides social support; expands their social networks; improves language and communication skills; and increases access to public and community services. While some clients indicated that Host did not meet their expectations with respect to employment, they still reported overall satisfaction with the Host program. More detailed findings with respect to the achievement of Host outcomes are outlined in subsection 3.3.
3.2 Clients Highly Satisfied with Host
Overall, SPO key informants, focus group clients and volunteers indicated very high levels of satisfaction with the program. Some focus group participants noted that while they were satisfied with Host, the level of satisfaction was linked to the quality of the volunteer/quality of the match.
3.3 Host is Considered Effective
This subsection presents the key findings with respect to achievement of key immediate and intermediate outcomes. All lines of evidence strongly support significant positive impacts of the Host program most notably with respect to providing social support/friendship and expanding the newcomers’ social networks (see Exhibits 3.2 and 3.3).
“The
Host program addresses a key factor of newcomer success: making
friends outside one’s own ethno-cultural group.”
SPO
Representative
“Host helps the community accept and understand
newcomers.”
SPO Representative
3.3.1 Achievement of Immediate Results
With respect to achievement of immediate outcomes [note 7], the evaluation found that Host provided newcomers with social support and friendship and engaged newcomers in the social networks of Hosts. Focus group clients, including youth clients, also reported that Host provided them with helpful guidance and advice in a variety of areas—job search, financial management.
SPO survey respondents rated the Host program as having the most significant impacts in terms of providing social support and expanding social networks. Focus group participants noted that the matches were an important source of support and friendship. A number of clients and volunteers indicated that friendships continued well after the matching period, which varies from a six- to twelve-month period. Many focus group clients noted that Host helped to reduce feelings of isolation and emotional distress.
“Host made
me feel like Canada was my home. We have lost our country and our
family. Host was very important to us.”
Newcomer
A number of focus group clients reported receiving assistance and guidance in a wide variety of areas (e.g., help with resume writing, homework assistance, money management, cooking lessons, and landlord and tenant relations). Moreover, both focus group volunteers and newcomers frequently described mutually enjoyable activities (e.g., potluck dinners, museum and library visits, and shopping).
Many focus group clients report that involvement in Host increased their awareness of Canadian society and values. They noted that this helped them feel more confident in communicating with others outside their own ethno-cultural background.
“With Host you learn about the reasons people
do things in Canada—you
can’t learn this anywhere else.”
Newcomer
Impacts on Host Volunteers
The majority of survey respondents report that volunteers’ expectations and goals are met to a large or greater extent. Focus group volunteers were highly satisfied with the Host program and indicated that it met their expectations to a great extent. Volunteers reported that their involvement in Host increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Many focus group volunteers reported that they have been involved in previous successful matches and plan to continue being a Host volunteer. A number of volunteers also noted that they have continued friendships with their matches. Some Host volunteers also noted broader positive impacts on their own families and friends. Exhibit 3.1 shows volunteer outcomes reported by SPOs.
“Je voulais aider, mais c’est moi qui a été enrichie.”
[I wanted to help, but I was enriched]
Volunteer
“The Host experience has had a tremendous impact not only
on us, but on our children as well.”
Volunteer
Achievement of Intermediate Results
Host was also considered to contribute to a number of intermediate [note 8] results such as improved access to services, expansion of social networks, improved communication skills, and improved ability to achieve personal goals.
“In five months we have found our way because of Host.”
Newcomer
Focus group participants indicated that Host helped improve newcomers’ ability to independently access community resources and services to a great extent. Some focus group clients noted that Host complements information from RAP/ISAP orientation sessions. It was important to have someone there to show them how and to reinforce the information they had received in orientation sessions. Clients also reported increased confidence in conducting daily activities (e.g., banking, shopping, using the transit system) as a result of Host activities. Focus group participants also noted improved access to services (e.g., health care, education). Some clients also indicated that Host helped them deal with fears (e.g., police, large cities).
With respect to communication skills, many focus group clients/volunteers noted that Host provides clients with increased opportunities to practice their language skills, particularly for those who were involved in Host conversation circles (see Conversation Circle Case Study in Appendix C). Some youth focus group clients also reported that Host helped them improve their English skills.
Many focus group clients reported that they met their personal goals particularly in areas of education and language improvement, but less so with respect to employment. However, a minority of focus group clients indicated that Host helped them find employment by providing job contact information.
3.4 Access to Host is Limited
While Host is reported to make a significant contribution to its clients and volunteers, it represents only a small portion (three (3) percent on average) of the national budget for settlement and resettlement programs. Therefore, access to Host is naturally limited by the smallness of the program itself. Considerations about access to Host should be viewed within this context.
Interview and survey data show that access to Host varies somewhat across regions and by community. In some areas, demand for Host exceeds capacity. However, most SPO key informants indicated that given the small amount of resources allocated to the program, access is good. Some key informants noted that Host was providing timely services to high needs clients. A number of key informants stated that, in many cases, wait times are the result of finding the most appropriate match that will best meet the expectations and needs of the newcomer and the volunteer.
The majority of survey respondents (66 percent) reported waiting lists for newcomers. Almost half of the newcomer applicants are matched in 30 days or less. Thirty-eight (38) percent report waiting times of 40 days or more for newcomers and 21 percent report waiting times of over 60 days (see Exhibit 3.4). Focus group clients indicated that Host would be most beneficial within the first month of arrival to Canada.
A regional analysis shows that the PNT region is less likely to report waiting lists for newcomers (50 percent report waiting lists). In comparison, 66 percent of Ontario SPOs and 83 percent of Atlantic SPOs report waiting lists.
According to the survey, commonly identified barriers for newcomers were lack of transportation (59%), lack of childcare (48%), and lack of awareness of the program (24%). SPO key informants cited transportation as a barrier only in locations where public transit was poor. Other barriers reported by key informants include lack of volunteer capacity to deal with high needs clients; difficulty recruiting volunteers in some areas; and additional barriers with respect to group Host activities (e.g., inadequate facilities, schedules, transportation).
Given the demand for Host in some areas, and reported lack of resources to manage additional matches, other eligible clients have limited access to this program.
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7. Immediate outcomes—as identified in the Host logic model contained in the Evaluation Framework for Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Settlement Programs—that result from matching of volunteers and newcomers are as follows: Newcomers and hosts meet objectives for match; newcomers are engaged in social networks of hosts; newcomers experience social support, friendship; newcomers have informal guidance related to their goals and settlement needs; and volunteers have increased awareness and knowledge about other cultures.
8. The intermediate results identified in the Host logic model are as follows: Host communities, including Francophone minority communities, welcome and engage newcomers; newcomers of all ages and members of Host communities are engaged in diverse social networks; newcomers can communicate in English and/or French; newcomers can access community resources and services, including libraries, health care, education; newcomers can meet personal goals, such as education, employment, or income improvement.
- Date Modified:
