Photo: Goderich Town Hall
Goderich council received an update from the Huron Perth Immigration Partnership to get an idea of the challenges that newcomers to the region face.
Mark Nonkes, who is the manager of the Local Immigration Partnership, shared the results of the survey.
The survey, which consisted of 40 participants, found that when someone first moves to Goderich and to Huron-Perth, they can find the experience daunting because of a lack of resources.
“Newcomers move here and they don’t have a fallback,” said Nonkes. “So they don’t have family and friends to go back to or rely on. They have a lack of credit, or rental history in Canada, which could be a barrier.”
Not being able to secure housing is challenging enough, but with a lack of affordable housing options, that can deter newcomers from staying.
The purpose of the Immigration Partnership is to help those without many resources secure safe housing, and can also help get clients in touch with the appropriate services that they need. This can enclude finding health care professionals, career help, and social events to integrate themselves into the community.
Participants in the most recent survey came from 10 different countries: Ukraine, Philippines, Mexico, Syria, India, Ghana, Guatemala, Iran, Russia, and Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire).
“This study came off the immigrant survey from 2023, which 195 people filled out,” Nonkes explained. “They told us the biggest challenge they have in this area is cost of living, followed by finding affordable housing.”
Once newcomers find themselves settling into the community, though, they say that they feel accepted and enjoy a slower pace of life, a connection to nature, and feel safe and appreciated.
The partnership has been spending the summer holding community conversations as to the types of resources and events that would be helpful for newcomers.
The Local Immigration Partnership, which operates as part of the County of Huron’s Economic Development department, is a team of just two people who help strengthen the newcomer experience to help people who move to the region want to stay.