The Anglican Diocese of Toronto (through FaithWorks) and the Shining Waters Region of the United Church collectively provide 50%-70% of AURA’s core annual funding. We rely on donations from individuals and other organizations to fill the gap and keep our mission going. 

You may donate in the following ways:

• Donation Form
• E-transfer: donation@auraforrefugees.org
• Cheque: payable to ‘Anglican United Refugee Alliance’. Mailing address: 525 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 1J1.
• Benevity: Matching donations provided by participating employers. Contact your employer for more information.

AURA will provide charitable tax receipts for donations over $25.
Our Revenue Canada Charity Registration Number is 108221938 RR0001.

No, unfortunately AURA cannot accept requests directly from refugees abroad seeking sponsorship to Canada. Each sponsorship application we support requires a dedicated group of local sponsors who must raise a significant amount of money and commit to providing hands-on help to the refugees for one year post-arrival. AURA’s job is to help sponsors access and successfully navigate the Private Sponsorship Program.

A Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is an organization that has an Agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which allows it to submit applications to resettle refugees to Canada through IRCC’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

A SAH must take ultimate responsibility in ensuring the refugees sponsored under their agreement receive adequate support from sponsors post-arrival. There are approximately 150 SAHs in Canada, and each one is unique in terms of who they serve and how they operate.

AURA is a SAH. Our Sponsorship Agreement is held in partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. This means that AURA’s priority is supporting local Anglican parishes in sponsorship. We can also support local United Churches, and we seek to facilitate partnerships between family/community sponsors and churches to sponsor as many refugees as possible.

The Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program is a refugee resettlement/immigration program that enables regular Canadians to directly participate in welcoming refugees by committing to support them for their first year in Canada.

The PSR program requires a serious commitment from sponsors. They must raise or provide the funds necessary to support the refugees for their first year in Canada and provide post-arrival support, such as picking them up at the airport, ensuring they have adequate housing, providing settlement assistance, and helping them become self-sufficient. 

Learn more about the PSR program

Yes. AURA is happy to support United Churches in the GTA in their refugee sponsorship efforts. United Churches are welcome to contact AURA to discuss specific applications, request settlement training sessions or support materials, and for information and guidance at any point in their sponsorship journey.

We are grateful to the Shining Waters Regional Council for their continued financial support.

Learn More

No. AURA works exclusively in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program and a refugee is defined as someone who has fled their home country, crossed an international border, and is unable to return safely.  

To be considered for this program, the Principal Applicant must be outside their country of origin. Their dependents (spouse and minor children) may still be inside their country of origin.

Sponsors are responsible for raising sufficient funds to support sponsored refugees financially, and planning and preparing for their arrival. 

Sponsors are responsible for providing hands-on supports for one year from the date the refugee newcomers arrive, which includes:

• Picking them up at the airport and arranging or providing temporary housing.
• Securing permanent housing.
• Providing essential furniture, household goods, food, clothing, etc. (by collecting donations and/or purchasing items).
• Orientating newcomers to the community, including shopping and transit.
• Assisting with essential documentation (e.g., SIN, OHIP, tax benefits, subsidies).
• Enrolling children in school and providing school supplies.
• Arranging English language assessments and classes.
• Arranging job training, vocational assistance, and employment search support.
• Identifying and accessing necessary medical and dental care.
• Connecting with community resources and supporting social and cultural integration.
• Supporting adjustment to Canadian life and promoting self-sufficiency.

Processing timelines for refugee sponsorship applications vary significantly and depend on many factors, including the country of asylum and complexity of the case. Named cases typically take 2-4 years from submission to arrival. Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) cases typically take 2-4 months from submission to arrival. 

There are no guaranteed timelines for this program.

If a sponsored refugee moves outside of the community where their sponsors are, this is considered “Secondary Migration”. Typically, IRCC will declare a no-fault breakdown, officially ending the sponsor’s obligations, and the newcomers will lose their sponsor’s support.

A no-fault breakdown does not happen automatically. Sponsors are obligated to try to locate sponsors or representatives in the new community, document and demonstrate their efforts to an IRCC officer, and continue providing financial support until an official breakdown is declared.

No. Refugee claimants follow a different process than privately sponsored refugees and AURA is unable to provide direct support or advice as this is not the program we work within.

No. Sponsors are not responsible for the actions of sponsored refugee newcomers. Sponsors have a responsibility to support newcomers in understanding their new environment, such as Canadian laws, how credit cards work and so on, but they are not responsible for the actions of the newcomers or the consequences these actions may have.