BC CHARMS connects refugee claimants to safe and suitable housing opportunities across the province of BC. We are the first of its kind in Western Canada to offer a platform to bring together people who help refugees settle and those with housing to offer. Through our program, we simplify the process of finding housing, making it more accessible and efficient for those in need. We work with commitment to ensure refugee claimants have equal opportunity and access to all housing options available, facilitating their settlement journey in British Columbia.
If you are a refugee claimant and are interested in being referred to BC CHARMS, please contact MOSAIC or one of our partner agencies to get connected with a settlement worker. For other settlement services please visit BC Settlement and Integration Services (BCSIS) page.
Before proceeding, please review the eligibility criteria below.
To join this program, you need to meet all of the following criteria:
BC CHARMS (British Columbia Refugee Claimant Housing Referral System) is dedicated to assisting refugee claimants in accessing safe and suitable housing options throughout the province. Our program works collaboratively with transitional housing providers and settlement agencies to ensure timely and personalized housing referrals for individuals and families who have recently arrived in Canada.
BC CHARMS Partner Agencies:
Through these initiatives, BC CHARMS aims to help refugee claimants, enhance their settlement experience, and promote social inclusion and integration within the local community.
Our offices are located in Vancouver and Burnaby, and our activities are conducted throughout the province of BC (see partner agencies above).
Refugee claimants are referred to BC CHARMS via settlement agencies, legal representatives, and service providers. To start the process, you should be connected to a settlement agency and inform the settlement worker of your housing needs. Then, the settlement worker will collect the necessary information and refer you to housing options in BC CHARMS based on availability and suitability.
Absolutely! People who do not work for a settlement agency (e.g. lawyer, teacher, church clergy, etc.) can easily refer a refugee claimant in need of housing by contacting us directly for a access to the online referral form. Once the online form is submitted, a settlement worker will contact the client to complete the housing referral process.
BC CHARMS prioritizes protecting the confidentiality of your information. All participating agencies are bound by strict security standards to ensure client information is kept safe and secure.
Referrals are based on eligibility, vulnerability, and availability of vacancies. Acceptance to a vacancy is at the discretion of the housing providers, who use their own internal measures when deciding who would be the best fit. The time it takes to get accepted depends on a number of reasons including housing availability and vulnerabilities.
