The refugees staying at Humber College are able to make use of some of the college’s programming. (Celeste Decaire)
Olivia Levesque and Celeste Decaire
The City of Toronto is looking to both the federal and provincial governments for help in housing the spike of refugee claimants after August.
In an urgent letter sent yesterday to Toronto MPs, Mayor John Tory said Toronto can no longer handle the influx of refugee claimants.
Humber College North campus has been home to a number of refugee families since June but their stay at the school’s residences is coming to an end.
“Humber’s contract with the city ends on Aug. 9, and we will work with the city as appropriate for move out,” said Andrew Leopold, Humber’s director of communications. “Students will begin to arrive on Aug. 26, so we will need to use that time to prepare for the fall.”
The college is offering various programming to the refugees staying on campus. Leopold said the refugee claimants are able to borrow books and come in for storytelling programs.
“The entire Humber community, their show of support has been more than generous,” he said. “Recently programs with the library have begun, and IT has also set up computers in the lobby of the residence for them to use.”
Humber College was expecting 400 refugees, and is currently at more than half capacity, with newcomers arriving every day.
“We are expecting that we will get to that number of 400, or at least close to it,” Leopold said.