How do you support refugees from inside Canada?

Rainbow Refugee’s Inland Program aims to enable LGBTQI+ and HIV+ persons fearing persecution in their countries of origin to seek asylum in Canada and exercise their rights. The program supports members of the community residing in British Columbia to claim and exercise their rights through information sessions, assistance, and advocacy. 

The Inland program focuses on several thematic areas—right to claim asylum and protection and eligibility, access to essential services, access to justice, and legal identity. Learn more by visiting our Inland Program page.

Do you sponsor refugees from outside Canada?

In 2011, Rainbow Refugee Society entered into partnership with the Federal government to direct a blended sponsorship program called the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership (RRAP). This is a national project and Rainbow Refugee has the responsibility of working with its own Circles of Hope as well as other community organizations across Canada to sponsor LGBTQI+ asylum seekers.

The RRAP is part of the private sponsorship stream. Private sponsorship generally is a 12-month commitment once the newcomer arrives in Canada. The applications for individuals and couples are submitted through a government approved Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH). Learn more by visiting our Sponsorship page.

Do you host drop-ins?

Yes. We host a regular drop-in and information session for refugee claimants in Canada. We provide orientation and guidance about starting a refugee claim, the refugee claim process, refugee hearing support, and share legal resources.

This group is for people fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and/or HIV+ status. If you would like to join, contact our Inland Program Coordinator by email or call 604-339-2719.