Red Deer is set to host more Ukrainian families fleeing the war.
The provincial government announced Friday an additional $4.32 million that will provide further emergency accommodations for the next four months to supplement support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The new funds will increase the number of hotel rooms available to Ukrainians when they arrive in Alberta and cover transportation costs to hotels when evacuees arrive in Calgary and Edmonton. Additional hotel rooms will be available in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
Since the war in Ukraine began, more than 28,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Alberta.
“Alberta’s government is providing additional funding to ensure that Ukrainian evacuees have a safe place to stay when they first arrive in Alberta,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
“This new funding comes directly from consultations with community partners that flagged the need for increased supports for evacuees. I will continue to advocate for more funding from the federal government to ensure Ukrainians have all the supports they need to settle in Alberta.”
According to the release, the government has provided supports to ensure evacuees can successfully settle in the province and will continue to step up where there is a need. Continued funding through Budget 2023 will go toward much-needed supports in settlement, language, education, food security, social services, housing and financial benefits.
“We are elated that so many Ukrainian evacuees will be helped with this announcement,” said Kelly Ernst, chief program officer with the Centre for Newcomers.
“This support will go a long way to eliminate the gap that existed in immediate temporary accommodation. We know that it will help to mitigate unnecessary homelessness among the evacuees and help remove evacuees from shelters, the street, and from staying overnight in airports.”
Since the war began, more than eight million Ukrainians have fled their country with more than 28,000 arriving in Alberta. It is estimated that more than 500 have arrived in Red Deer alone.