Total of 570 took advantage of 'Refugee Support Program,' which could become permanent 'Welcome to Guelph' program

A pilot project aimed at helping refugees relocating to Guelph could become a permanent city offering.

The city's one-year "Refugee Support Program" could become the permanent "Welcome to Guelph Program" if Guelph City Council agrees with a staff recommendation.

The one-year pilot project, initiated last April, offered new refugees settling in Guelph free passes for Guelph Transit, Guelph Museums and open recreation programs offered in the city.

A staff report said that in its first year the program saw 570 applications approved and 496 recent refugees picking up passes.

There were 32,580 rides on Guelph Transit taken with those passes and 37 people accessed city recreation services.

"The permanent program will have a financial impact of $3,100 in year one, and $1,550 annually for the purchase of equipment, the purchase and printing of Welcome to Guelph Passes and translation of needed materials," says the staff report.

"While there is potential revenue in the absence of a Welcome to Guelph program, current participants are generally not existing service users, and are accessing open programs and services of the city."

Staff had initially expected between 300 to 400 recent refugees to access the program. They said the fact 570 applied shows the need is even greater than anticipated.

Most of those taking advantage of the program, 55 per cent, came from Eritrea . Syrian refugees accounted for 33 per cent.

The report says that 41 per cent of those using the program have since signed up for the city's Affordable Bus Pass.