Seeking Support

Are you currently living in Canada, and looking for support?

Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia (RRANS) is able to provide settlement support to people who arrived in Canada through government assisted refugee (GAR) and privately sponsored refugee (PSR) pathways, as well as individuals who are living in Canada and making a refugee asylum claim.

What support can RRANS provide:

  • RRANS can provide 1 on 1 settlement support including providing local resources and information, assistance with systems navigation, and setting goals to help meet your settlement needs.

  • RRANS can invite you to group programming and events, including bi-weekly community hang outs, and other connections to local 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer communities.

What support RRANS can not provide:

  • RRANS can not provide direct housing or financial support.

  • RRANS can not directly assist you in making a refugee asylum claim from within Canada. For this, we recommend reaching out to The Halifax Refugee Clinic.

  • RRANS can not provide proof of membership to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you are currently living in Canada, and you are looking for settlement support, please fill out this form.

Are you currently outside of Canada, and looking for support?

Each year, RRANS is able to privately sponsor a small number of LGBTQI+ refugees to resettle in Nova Scotia. In order to be eligible for private sponsorship through RRANS, you must:

  • have fled your country due to violence or persecution based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics,

  • be living outside of your country of origin, in a second country of asylum

They collaborate with international partners to safely relocate individuals and navigate the refugee claims process. While RRANS does not directly intervene in foreign legal systems, they provide sponsorship and advocacy to ease the transition to Canada.

What support can RRANS provide:

  • RRANS can provide information, through links to Canadian government websites, to information on refugee and immigration pathways to Canada and how to access them.

What support RRANS can not provide:

  • RRANS can not provide financial support.

  • RRANS can not provide advice or support on fleeing your country, making a refugee claim abroad or in Canada, or about guidance on which option is best for you.

  • RRANS can not provide proof of membership to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

If you are currently living outside of Canada, and you are looking for refugee resettlement, please fill out this form.