Larger and extended families wait an average of 3 years to find adequate housing. That's three years of kids not having stability at school, money being diverted from food for rent, untold stress, and unmanageable anxiety. Edmonton needs to build 40,000+ new 3+ bedroom units by 2026 – that's more than the total number of 1 and 2-bedroom units combined.
Civida, the largest provider of community and affordable housing in Edmonton, and IslamicFamily, an Edmonton-based social change organization providing award-winning community-anchored services, are pleased to jointly announce a strategic partnership aimed at addressing the demand for affordable homes for larger-sized families in the City. Civida and IslamicFamily have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to purchase land, serving as a blueprint for joint efforts and solidifying their commitment to an impactful collaboration.
It has been eight months since the launch of Edmonton's mental health court, designed to help ease the backlog in the justice system and respond to the growing number of cases that involve people with mental health problems. Since April, more than 2,340 accused have appeared on the docket. Legal Aid lawyer and IFSSA's board member, Amna Qureshi, highlights the need and importance of these new court proceedings.
United Cultures of Canada Association annually present three Peace in Families Awards, to recognize the work of those who have dedicated their lives to prevent violence in families and are working to build a society where children can be raised in safe, loving homes. The awards are presented at The Diverse Voices Conference, held every year in Alberta. Approximately 700-800 delegates participate from all over Canada. Congratulations to IFSSA's Naheed Amjad-Minhas, who is the proud recipient of Peace in Families Award 2018. Naheed has been working with IFSSA for more than 7 years in combating family violence. Thank you for your service and dedication to IFSSA and our community Naheed. Congratulations!
The number of refugees that have been lost to the sea in recent years is staggering. According to figures released by the UN Refugee Agency, the current count for the dead and missing in the Mediterranean sits at 2,951 for 2016. In one week alone in late May at least 880 people drowned. For many refugees here in Canada that, unsurprisingly, has translated into a fear of water. The fear is particularly prevalent among younger refugees, says Ghada Ageel, a refugee support manager with the Islamic Family and Social Services Association.
"As a country, together we will rise from this darkness stronger and more unified than ever before. That is who we are." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered uplifting words during a funeral for three of the six men killed at a mosque, Jan. 29, in Quebec City. IFSSA's executive director, Mohamed Huque, speaks to CBC's The Current about the attack, and the rising Islamophobia in Canada.
The settlement process is far from over for 2,090 Syrian refugees who settled in Edmonton after Canada committed to rapid resettlement efforts in November 2015. A report to be presented at a community and public services committee meeting at city hall on Monday gives an update on the challenges still faced by Syrian refugees forging a new life in Edmonton. Mohamed Huque, executive director of the Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA), said Thursday the expectation that a refugee can become a fully engaged member of society within a year of arriving simply isn’t realistic.
Individual voices, woven together to create a community, is the driving force behind a new project created by a group of Edmontonians and being unveiled Tuesday. “Various Muslim countries and cultures have prayer rugs that are symbolic of the regions that they were made in and the people that created them,” said Taouba Khelifa, program manager for Green Room, the youth program run by the Islamic Family and Social Services Association and brains behind the Edmonton prayer rug project.
Muslims around the world started to observe Ramadan this week. From sunrise to sunset, people go without food and water. The fast is broken each night with a meal known as iftar, shared with family and friends. A new program run by Islamic Family and Social Services aims to match single Muslims with host families so they don’t have to have their evening meal alone.
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