‘300 calls a week’: Help needed to properly resettle Ukrainian newcomers, says Catholic Social Services

Edmonton students donated clothes to Ukrainian newcomers. As Laura Krause reports, it comes at a time when organizations are seeing a rising demand for their services.

By laurakrause

Posted February 23, 2023 5:45 pm.

Last Updated February 23, 2023 7:15 pm.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to properly resettle Ukrainian newcomers in Edmonton, according to Catholic Social Services (CSS).

The group says demand for its services is at an all-time high – about 300 calls each week – and its Refugee Relief Fund is running alarmingly low.

“As the war continues to ravage the country, we see an increase in the number of new arrivals from Ukraine,” said Margaroyta Marion, the organization’s director of immigration and settlement services. “Currently we’ll receive around 60 calls a day from Ukrainians who need our help, guidance and support.

“We have a Ukrainian response team at Catholic Social Services that consists of three staff members who receive calls and try to accommodate as many requests as possible. We just try to manage as much as we can, and to provide services to as many Ukrainians as we can. Making sure that no call and no visit is left unaddressed.”

CSS has set a goal to raise at least $100,000 to help Ukrainians and other refugees who are arriving in Alberta.

The organization helps people like Nataliia, who fled Ukraine last spring.

“I’m thankful to Canada, because the people here from my experience have been very compassionate,” she said. “The government has also opened a few doors for us, but also it’s the regular people who have been the most helpful I think.

“When I don’t know something, I know where I can go and ask, and if Catholic Social Services doesn’t know something, or they don’t provide the service I need, they point me to where I can go.”

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CSS says the money raised will help provide food, shelter, and clothing to those who need it most.

“We need help from Albertans,” said Dr. Troy Davies, the CEO of Catholic Social Services and Sign of Hope. “There have been few times in our agency’s history that have challenged us in the ways that we are being challenged today. Global conflict and other disruptions have created mass migrations of people in desperate need of refuge.”

On the eve of the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the call is out to Edmontonians to help as they can.

“We were able to raise $60,000, which has helped hundreds of refugees,” said Davies. “However those funds are now running alarmingly low, while demand is that an all-time high.

“We’ve set a goal to raise at least $100,000 to help Ukrainians and other refugees who are arriving here in Edmonton and throughout central Alberta.”