Project Type: Client Intake and Assistance
Fields of Law: Immigration and Refugee Law
Positions Available: 2 students
About Romero House
Romero House works with refugee claimants: people who claim refugee status after arriving in Canada. It provides transitional housing, where refugee families live with us for one year after their arrival, in which they are accompanied in navigating the refugee determination process and establishing their lives in Canada. Romero House also has walk-in programs, which includes clothing boutiques, and assistance with: settlement assistance, accessing legal aid, finding lawyers, refugee claim process, accessing education, accessing social assistance, and accessing emergency shelter.
Project Details
Romero House works with refugee claimants, meaning people who claim refugee status after arriving in Canada. Romero House provides transitional housing, where refugee families live with them for one year after their arrival in Canada. During this time, Romero House supports them in navigating the refugee determination process and establishing their lives in Canada. Romero House also has walk-in programs, which includes clothing boutiques, and assistance with: settlement assistance, accessing legal aid, finding lawyers, refugee claim process, accessing education, and accessing social assistance. This project supports the program through helping walk-ins apply for Permanent Residence and Travel Documents (virtual or hybrid).
Role of Student Volunteer(s)
Student #1
The student will provide virtual or in-person support for protected persons (accepted refugee claimants) in applying for Permanent Residence and Travel Documents. This involves communicating with clients by email, phone calls and video class and supporting them in collecting information, filling out forms, finding appropriate documents and understanding application requirements and timelines. The student will be put in touch directly with the client and will support them throughout the process. This role may also involve supporting refused refugee claimants in appeal, H+C or PRRA processes.
Student #2
The student will participate in delivering Romero House’s in-person walk-in program. This program meets the needs of refugee claimants who are homeless, in shelters, renting, or staying with family/friends in Toronto. These needs include navigating access to social assistance, understanding the refugee claim process, completing profile information on the iRCC web portal, accessing legal aid and finding a refugee lawyer. This role may also involve supporting refused refugee claimants in appeal, H+C or PRRA processes.
Is A Work Plan Required For This Position?
No.
If yes, the student(s) must reach out to the lawyer supervisor, draft a work plan, and submit it by email to the Program Coordinator and the lawyer supervisor by November 1st at the latest. Please note that workplans are required for all legal research and writing projects.
What Type Of Training Will the Organization Provide?
Note: All first year PBSC volunteers and all volunteers working on research projects must also attend a PBSC/Thomson Reuters legal research strategies workshop.
Student #1 will participate in a training session specific to filling out Permanent Residence applications, led by a Romero House staff.
Student #2 will complete Romero House’s intake training modules and have ongoing training from Romero House’s Executive Director and intake coordinator.
How Many Hours Per Week Will the Student Volunteer(s) Be Expected to Volunteer?
3-5 hours per week.
Will The Student(s) Be Expected To Show Up For Regular Shifts Each Week?
Student #1
Shifts will be discussed with Romero House’s volunteer and intake coordinator. One in-person and one online shift per week are preferable, but a fully virtual option is also an option. Virtual shifts may not need to have a regularly scheduled time.
Student #2
The student will have a weekly in-person shift, ideally on Wednesdays. (ex. Wednesdays 10AM-2PM or Wednesdays 1-5PM).
*Please indicate in your application which position you are interested in and available to take part in.
Is Workspace Provided For the Student Volunteer(s)?
Yes, if volunteering in person a workspace will be provided.
Requirements and Expectations
No language requirement, however, Spanish is a significant asset.
Interest in immigration and refugee law; volunteer or work experience with working with vulnerable groups or immigration and refugee related field – knowledge/experience/background in working with refugees and newcomers. Knowledge about the immigration and refugee systems of Canada and accessing social assistance is preferred but not required. This role requires significant adaptability, empathy and patience working with newcomers navigating paperwork in a new country.