Refugee response team named for Thompson-Okanagan region

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A refugee response team tasked with helping Syrian refugees integrate and resettle will begin work immediately, after funding from the provincial government was announced today.

Kelowna Community Resources Society has been chosen to lead the response team. Secondary teams may operate in the Kootenays, the government says in a release today, March 22.

The team will work with refugee families in Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. The teams will have representatives from various groups and organizations including churches, settlement organizations, private sponsors, educators and employers, according to the release.

In addition to the refugee resettlement fund, the government is waiving medical premiums and wait periods for refugees and is offering child care subsidies, the B.C. childhood tax benefit, the basic family bonus and student aid, the press release says.

Initial funding of $30,000 comes from a $1 million fund set up for refugee resettlement with more promised for the summer.

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