Each week we will post a summary of interesting and representative 211 calls. This week, we have a connection from Manitoba.

Manitoba:

Starting life in a new country is daunting. So many items, large and small, are needed to set up a new home for a family. What is even more challenging is that since refugees are new to Canada, they often do not know where to look for community information. 211 Service Navigators are there 24 hours a day for support and information, so that refugees can find all of the help and services that they need to settle in Canada.

A refugee from the Ukraine, who had recently found an apartment, called 211 looking for furniture and clothing for her children. Their family could not afford to buy all of what they needed, and she said that the Ukrainian Canadian Congress was helping them. However, she said that she was still looking for certain pieces of furniture and clothing. She stated that she was very grateful for everything they had received, but that they were just lacking a few basic items for their children like dressers.

The Service Navigator showed empathy for the client’s situation, and asked some probing questions including exactly what furniture and clothing were still needed. He was able to provide some referrals for the client to get the remaining pieces of furniture and clothing. The caller said that she was grateful for the resources suggested during her call, and that she was going to call the referrals right away. She stated she would give 211 a call back if she needed any more information or services as she and her family settled in their new community.