CCBR collaborated with United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT)to explore and understand the experiences of African refugee asylum seekers in Peel, Yorkand Toronto, to identify promising practices as well as existing gaps within support systems, and to inform efforts for meaningful improvement. 

The study intended to answer four main questions: 

1. What are the shared successes, and the barriers and challenges faced by African refugee asylum seekers in Peel, York, and Toronto?

2. What promising practices in support systems are enabling these successes?
3. Where are the persistent gaps in support systems in Peel, York, and Toronto?
4. What strategic actions would improve support for African refugee asylum seekers in Peel, York, and Toronto? 

 A community-based research approach was used in this study. This means that the research tried to be as community-driven, participatory, and action-oriented as possible (Janzen & Ochocka, 2020). These principles were lived out in four important ways: a) Advisory committee, b) Diverse research team, c) Community forum, d) Co-developed recommendations.  

This research was conducted between June to December 2024. It was designed as a qualitative, exploratory study that involved three methods of data collection, including document review, individual and group discussions, and community forum. It is worth noting that data was analyzed in recognition of anti-Black racism. Systemic racism is present in Canada's immigration system (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022). It shapes the experiences of people from African descent at multiple levels, in a way that other groups may not face as acutely. These experiences include inequitable access to housing, employment, and social services, compounded by racial bias and stereotypes that can influence the decisions of service providers, landlords, and policymakers (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2023). By centering anti-Black racism, the research highlights the specific ways this form of racism operates within Canada's immigration framework. It goes beyond generalized discussions of discrimination to uncover how anti-Black racism uniquely marginalizes African asylum seekers. This approach ensures that their lived experiences are not overlooked or homogenized within broader immigrant narratives. 

Finally, a word about what this research is not. The study was exploratory rather than confirmatory or comprehensive. It was not quantitative research aimed at generalizing the experiences of all African asylum seekers or mapping the entire system of support. Instead, the research intended to gain more in-depth insights of key issues for the sake of timely action. It did so by foregrounding the voices of African asylum seekers. While asylum seekers are not expected to have a full understanding of programming that exists, this research explores a deeper understanding of the experiences and barriers that they face even while building on the strengths of the current system of support.