Hamilton community partners hosting second Ukrainian Welcome & Information Centre

As more individuals and families fleeing war in Ukraine arrive in Hamilton and the GTHA Region, the City and community partners are working together to support and welcome Ukrainian arrivals to our community through Hamilton’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis Response. At the event, Ukrainian newcomers and host families can access wrap around information and services to support resettlement in Hamilton including access to health and mental health supports, access to social insurance numbers and health cards, income support, support with housing intake and matching, education and child care, jobs and language development, and also COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ukrainian Welcome and Information Centre

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 3 pm to 8 pm

Bennetto Community Centre (450 Hughson St. North, Hamilton)

If participants are applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) and/or Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) number, they are asked to bring: work or study permit, or visitor record; passport; document(s) issued by a Canadian government containing their legal name and birthdate, and a member of a host family as a guarantor.

With the war in Ukraine it is anticipated tens of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing war will make their way to Canada. The City of Hamilton is facilitating a local community response to plan locally with community partners and also coordinate regionally with Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) municipalities. Proactive coordination between local Ukrainian community, the City, immigration/resettlement agencies, public health and health care agencies, social services (housing and income supports), child care and education is needed to safely support and warmly welcome the arrival of Ukrainian newcomers.

Participating organizations include Ukrainian Canadian Congress with Ukraine Social Services, Red Cross, City of Hamilton, Ontario Works, Service Canada, primary care and mental health supports, Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council, YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford, Wesley, community employment services, YWCA Hamilton, Immigrant Working Centre, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District Catholic School Board.

Quick Facts

• At the first drop-in event in May, over 70 Ukrainian newcomers and host families accessed the one-stop location for information and services including primary care and health, income supports, housing, education, child care, immigration and partnerships within Hamilton.  
• 240,000 Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) applications have been received by the Government of Canada, approximately 112,000 have been processed.