The Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH), currently has no spaces available for 2024. We are not accepting new applications at this time. Please explore other SAHs in your area for sponsorship opportunities.
We will be accepting applications from churches for refugee sponsorship beginning in January of 2024. If you wish to sponsor, we will ask you to submit these things:
- a list of people you hope to sponsor,
- the church involved as sponsor or co-sponsor,
- a list of at least 5 people who will be involved in settlement,
- a realistic budget for the first year of settlement.
The diocese has a formal agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to enable Constituent Groups to sponsor refugees under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. We've been authorizing sponsorships since the 1980s. Sponsorship groups must be connected to the diocese and take full responsibility for settlement aspects for at least one year. Our yearly allocation is limited, and we prioritize groups capable of fulfilling settlement requirements and meeting Canada's eligibility criteria.
While we welcome partnerships with other faith groups, alignment with the Anglican Church's human rights principles is essential, including rights of women and people who identify as LGBTQ2S+.
The Diocesan Refugee Unit (DRU) is available to meet with parishes who are interested in exploring ways to support refugees through sponsorship, partnering with others, and/or offering assistance to refugees already in the country. Shannon Muir is the Chair of the Unit. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Shakuntala (Satori) Soden, the Diocesan Refugee Coordinator, via email: refugee@vancouver.anglican.ca
