New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless’

[qorax]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Plus 1 for you for mate .

Thanx & reciprocated Sir.

 

[jnathan]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Get well prepared ! Know Canada, Know its economy, Know its People !
I am seeing that having a very good financial backup is the key in most cases.
But, Qorax, its a FSW scheme, What about people who used to be a highly skilled and worked as a key in his org Back in India but failing to be blended with the Canadian Workforce? Recession? Racism? or its the applicant who needs to be changed?

 

[regnard]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

It's a depressing article, but I think it doesn't stretch any truth.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think there is a message encouraging folks to look at other cities, even those currently living in the Toronto area. I've read a few articles that say other cities are more livable than Toronto, like Ottawa and Calgary.

 

[Leon]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

In some cases there is a bit of reluctance from the Canadian employer who will ask where your Canadian education and experience is before they want to hire you but the immigrant also has a lot of work to do. There is a lot you can already do from home. Do your research. Find out what qualifications are needed to work in your field in Canada. Find out which province is best for your field. Which city. Find out how you build a Canadian style CV. Set up some interviews already. Then when you arrive, instead of settling somewhere without a job, come alone and travel so you can look for work. When doing interviews, scout out the company before you go there. Look at how the people dress and arrive for your interview looking like you will fit in. Get your hair cut similar to what you see professionals in your field do. You want to look like you are one of them, not fresh off the boat. Looking like you fit in helps you convince the employer that you have the skills. Looking like you came from another planet will not. Once you have a job, then bring the family. This would be the cautious way to immigrate.

The not so cautious way but still preferred by many immigrants would be like this. Don't do any research. Settle in some city you think is cool. Bring your whole family. Sign a 1 year lease on an apartment. Use up your savings while you wait for a job to fall into your lap. Really, and people think this is not asking for trouble? I have met so many immigrants who seem to think it is somebody's job to help them settle in Canada. They will ask how come nobody helped them find an apartment or a job. Now I don't know what it is like in their country but in Canada, nobody helps you find an apartment and a job, you have to get going and do it yourself.

 

[scylla]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Get well prepared ! Know Canada, Know its economy, Know its People !
I am seeing that having a very good financial backup is the key in most cases.
But, Qorax, its a FSW scheme, What about people who used to be a highly skilled and worked as a key in his org Back in India but failing to be blended with the Canadian Workforce? Recession? Racism? or its the applicant who needs to be changed?

The reality is that applicants do need to change at least somewhat to really fit into the Canadian working culture. This is true of any country anyone immigrates to. I know a number of professionals who immigrated from the UK or US to Canada. Many people might think these three countries are the same. However from a business perspective, these immigrants had to adjust how they work professionally. I even have one friend who was born in the US and started his career there, then moved to the UK and then to Canada. He said all three countries were quite different and he had to adjust his behaviour/approach each time. People generally immigrate because they want changes. So it is only natural to expect that you yourself will have to change as well.

 

[Harri]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

It's all within me

Besides, that article reflects a situation which is global... occurring in most metros around the world, not specific to Toronto, or Canada as a whole.

As someone opined earlier, Rents here r pretty similar to the ones found in many cities. New Delhi, Bombay, Tokyo, London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oslo etc. fare much worse. So, if one can't make-out here... sure s/he can't make-it-out in similar other parts of the world too. Not in Toronto for sure.

And then, I've observed, over the time, that this picture that was painted reg. New Immigrants is typical of "No-Go" cases... there'd always be such ppl who would not make it, whatever the Govt. does (why should the Govt. do anything for them is another discussion altogether), they'd remain future-starved no matter where they r... they were so in their homeland as well. Coming here didn't change anything. They were bound to fail - no matter where they lived.

I also see new immigrants making it out damn well in 2-3 yrs. And going gaga in 5-6 yrs... well placed, living well, enjoying their life out loud!

So, where did the difference emerge? It's our +ve attitude, determination, perseverance, disposition & smart planning/outlook that matters. These guys landed well prepared, knew what they were unto, took the right steps, were financially stable (I don't say, 'strong') from the day they took off from wherever they were, and proceeded to do well here as well.

A pointer about being financially stable: immigration is no bed of roses, for anyone. Moving to a foreign land will always have it's challenges, especially in the financial front. What with the thought that "oh, I've received my PR now, let Stephen Harper do it for me hereon, once I enter canada"? How dumb that thought could be. And it's potent to also note that most despicable situations r with those guys who land from the third world; and w/out the preparations. It's common knowledge that their homeland was much less expensive to live by, while North America is a "dog eats dog" territory. So, if u thought that with sparse means u could live well here - ur head needs to be examined.

CIC gave a certain table for settlement funds... r we aware that many, I repeat "many", land here with half of that, if at all they had any? And then there r guys who come here with borrowed sums! Which they either send back imdt upon landing, or need to pay a high monthly interest to the 'loan shark' back home. How did they ever think that they could do w/out the legitimate funds in this part of the world. Std of Living aside, things ought be over-the-top expensive (especially) for them, don't u think?

So, where do they go? Scar(e)borough, or Thorncliffe, if its Toronto that we r talking about. A life to start with from these places itself is deplorable from the word go. They didn't have the means, their friends-circle, here, were of similar backgrounds, who r still slogging here, they landed & 'shared' with them, it's by design that they'd 'share their misfortunes' as well. For a long long time.

Not to mention that this CIC table of funds is meant to be just a guideline; and at best meant to be for surviving for a couple of months w/out job. While, most of us could take more than 3-5 months to actually get something of a starter occupation, notwithstanding worthwhile. It's the same in any country. Once u move to another city, within ur country, do u think jobs were waiting for the grabs? So, why Canada would be any different? Uhh, newcomers r discriminated! Don't u discriminate the 'southerners' when they come to the 'north', in ur country? And vice-versa? So, where's the difference?

Moreover, this isn't an 'inter-city' migration... we r here talking about migrating to another part of the world altogether. The culture is different, the weather is different, the color (most of the time) is different, the upbringing is different, the religion (most of the time) is different, the individual thought process is different, the money-matters r different (oh, the currency equivalence is different too), the hiring process is different, the resume format is different, the work-culture is different, oh yeah - the smell of the land is different! And the works! So, why don't we prepare well in advance? We ought to 'change' ourselves if we have to survive here. The problem is: most would like others to 'change'.

I regret sounding tad rude here, but that's the irony - I would rather like Canada to roll out the red carpet for new immigrants, straight from Pearson International - but change or upgrade myself - I'd definitely not.

I see here all the time ppl/forumers asking where in Toronto do most Indians live, or the Chinese reside, or where the Muslims/Hindus/Sikh/Buddinst stay, some have gone further down to asking about typical third-world ethnic bifurcations within the city. Why don't we ever ask where the good-going Canadians live?

If I do not integrate, I'm afraid, I'd always remain an Indian-in-Canada, or a Chinese-in-Canada, or a Filipino-in-Canada, or a Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh-in-Canada (no sectarianism involved in my quotes for the record), but I might never be a Canadian-from-Canada! It's an irony/shame that we tend to pass-on the same to our children as well... for whom we actually treaded this path (of immigrating to the west)... and they'd continue to be similarly called/imbibed/indoctrinated for generations, w/out becoming a Canadian. Did we actually plan it that way? Think about it.

Qorax

I salute you Captain.

 

[mute_man]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

now, this is called something!! this is exactly why I hang around this forum so much!! thanks a lot guyz!!

 

[explorer101]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

It's all within me

I see here all the time ppl/forumers asking where in Toronto do most Indians live, or the Chinese reside, or where the Muslims/Hindus/Sikh/Buddinst stay, some have gone further down to asking about typical third-world ethnic bifurcations within the city. Why don't we ever ask where the good-going Canadians live?

If I do not integrate, I'm afraid, I'd always remain an Indian-in-Canada, or a Chinese-in-Canada, or a Filipino-in-Canada, or a Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh-in-Canada (no sectarianism involved in my quotes for the record), but I might never be a Canadian-from-Canada! It's an irony/shame that we tend to pass-on the same to our children as well... for whom we actually treaded this path (of immigrating to the west)... and they'd continue to be similarly called/imbibed/indoctrinated for generations, w/out becoming a Canadian. Did we actually plan it that way? Think about it.

Qorax

Very well said Qorax, live would be really fantastic when one think on these lines.
I would like to press like button

 

[yessoh]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

This may be so for new immigrants. But I heard the news that more and more international students are buying houses and condos in the Greater Vancouver region.

 

[jnathan]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Any website where you can buy houses in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary?

 

[steaky]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Any website where you can buy houses in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary?

mls.ca for homes across Canada

 

[jnathan]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Thanks

are there houses in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton for $150,000 - $300,000 ?

 

[nicholas30]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Well said Qorax!!!!!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[qorax]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

I salute you Captain.

Very well said Qorax, live would be really fantastic when one think on these lines.
I would like to press like button

Well said Qorax!!!!!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Thank you, Sir/s!

 

[scylla]

Re: New immigrants are the ‘hidden homeless'

Thanks

are there houses in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton for $150,000 - $300,000 ?

I can only speak for Toronto. You can still find some houses under $300K. However there will probably be something quite wrong with them (i.e. not in good condition, not in a good neighbourhood, far from downtown Toronto, etc.). Here's one example from MLS that's just under $300K:

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=11513391&PidKey=-1790790649

This property is being sold "as is". This probably means that it is either a tear down (i.e. they are selling the property for land value) or a complete gut and renovation.

Here's another one just under $300K. It's in better shape but further east/north of downtown:

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=11717075&PidKey=1396018708

The average price for houses in Toronto during the month of March was over $500K.