Syrian refugee families struggle to find housing after Coquitlam apartment fire
LandlordBC urges landlords in the Coquitlam area to offer their support to the Syrian refugee families struggling to find housing after the recent apartment fire.
The City of Coquitlam is calling on residents to help find housing for a group of Syrian refugees recently displaced by a devastating apartment fire.
“There’s more optimism than pessimism,” says Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart.
Twelve families lost their homes — ten of them were recently arrived Syrian refugees. Altogether, the City of Coquitlam said, 86 residents have been displaced.
“They have spent the last six months building the household that they need for their children,” Stewart said. “So we’re working hard with them now to put them back on their feet.”
The families are temporarily being housed at Simon Fraser University in some vacant townhouses, but only for a few more days.
Immigrant Services Society of B.C. has taken on the responsibility of finding them housing, but the mayor is still asking for help from generous Coquitlam residents.
“We’re putting out a call today to our residents for an unused basement suite or any number of other options, two bedrooms, three bedrooms — those kinds of things. A bachelor suite doesn’t work really well for a family of four.”
Stewart said cash is also needed, and anyone who wishes to donate can find more information on the City of Coquitlam website.
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