Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

2. Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

2.7 How much financial support will be required?

The sponsorship application kits provide details of how much financial support is likely to be needed to meet the sponsorship obligations and advice on how to determine whether a group has sufficient funds. Although the cost of living varies from centre to centre across the country, the Sponsorship Cost Table and the In-Kind Deduction Table included in the sponsorship kits can help to estimate the annual settlement cost for sponsoring a refugee or refugee family. One rule of thumb is that sponsors are expected to provide a level of support equal to that of the prevailing rates for social assistance in the expected community of settlement.

The sponsoring group may establish a trust fund for the sponsorship, but may not accept or require payment of funds from a refugee for submitting a sponsorship.

The financial support of sponsors is given on the basis of need. Refugees are expected to contribute to their own settlement costs from funds they bring to Canada or earn during their sponsorship period.

Since sponsorship is meant to lead to self-sufficiency, sponsoring groups are encouraged to help refugees find employment, but cannot force them to accept any job offered. Sponsors are, however, permitted to adjust their financial support downward if a refugee refuses to take a reasonable job offer. Finding employment within the sponsorship period is not always possible so the sponsoring group is advised not to count on employment income when securing funds for the sponsorship.

 

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