So far Windsor has welcomed 590 government-sponsored Syrian refugees and with that comes some housing hurdles.
"It's always challenging to find housing, especially affordable housing no matter when," says Kathleen Thomas, executive director of the Multicultural Council of Windsor-Essex County.
Initially when they arrive the refugees are placed in hotels and so far more than 450 have been moved out and found a home. Those include apartments, townhouses and detached homes.
"It's not always easy to find for [larger] families or if it's a modified house, those with accessibility issues, those are the most difficult to locate," Thomas says.
Once they move in the federal government provides them with a furniture package to help get the basic necessities.
Even with the help Thomas says rent, heating and other expenses eats up a large portion of the refugees monthly allowance.
"They get very little money, therefore it's the same rate as about those who are on Ontario Works, so it's not a lot of money we're talking about," she says. "It's always a challenge finding them affordable housing that's decent for individuals to live in."
Right now about 100 refugees are in hotels going through the orientation process and many are moving out this week.
The city has also welcomed 112 privately-sponsored Syrian refugees since November 4, according to the Canadian Government website.
Thomas expects a few hundred more government-sponsored Syrian refugees to arrive in Windsor by the end of the year.
