Community Sponsorship: Bringing Families to Safety in Canada

Canada's Private Sponsorship of Refugees programme is a powerful model that allows community groups—including faith communities, neighbourhood associations, and groups of concerned citizens—to sponsor refugees directly and welcome them to Canada. At OCRSS, we have seen the transformative impact of sponsorship: families who might otherwise wait years for resettlement find safety and support because a group of Canadians decided to act. If you have ever wondered how you and your community could make a direct difference in a refugee family's life, sponsorship may be the answer.

How Community Sponsorship Works

Sponsorship groups commit to providing financial support and settlement assistance to a refugee family for their first year in Canada. This includes helping with housing, orientation, language learning, and integration into the community. Sponsors do not need to be experts in resettlement—organisations like OCRSS provide training, guidance, and ongoing support throughout the sponsorship period. Many sponsorship groups form around a shared connection: a congregation, a workplace, or a neighbourhood that wants to welcome a family in need.

Key steps in the sponsorship process include:

• Forming a sponsorship group (typically five or more people) and designating a constituent group or community sponsor
• Submitting an application through the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) programme or the Group of Five pathway
• Preparing for arrival: securing housing, gathering donations, and recruiting volunteers
• Welcoming the family at the airport and supporting them through their first year
• Partnering with settlement organisations like OCRSS for cultural and linguistic support

OCRSS as Your Partner

OCRSS specialises in supporting Oromo refugees and their sponsors. We can help identify families in need of sponsorship, provide orientation to sponsorship groups, and offer culturally and linguistically appropriate services once families arrive. Our staff speak Oromo and understand the unique needs of families from the Oromo community. If you are considering sponsorship, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can bring more families to safety and build stronger, more welcoming communities across British Columbia.