Neo-liberalizing social service provision: Reactions and responses to the limits and constraints of housing and settlement services for refugees in Toronto, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article engages with the impacts of neoliberalism on the experiences of social service providers working with refugees searching for shelter and affordable housing in Toronto, Canada. The 1990s in Toronto consisted of intergovernmental restructuring, which downloaded federal housing responsibilities onto provincial and municipal governments. Additionally, changes made to settlement funding had direct impacts on non-profit organizations serving immigrants and refugees. This devolution and decentralization of Canada's housing and settlement services have led to a complex hybrid of informal and formal social networks. Based on semi-structured interviews with service providers, this study reveals institutional gaps in Toronto's housing and settlement support models. This paper enriches scholarly debates on (1) neoliberal cities, (2) social service provision for immigrants and refugees, and (3) informal social networks, by engaging with critical feminist frameworks that highlight the importance of a profound understanding of the types of informal networks developed by social service providers.KEYWORDS: Social networksaffordable housingnon-profits AcknowledgmentsFirst, I am deeply appreciative of the social service providers who were interviewed for this project. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences and knowledge on the critical challenges impacting refugees in Canada. This paper could not have been written without your key insights and openness to share your knowledge with me. A very special thank you to my postdoctoral supervisor, Dr. Marieme Lo, who read several drafts of this paper and guided me throughout the process. Her encouragement, support, and wisdom were integral to completing this project. I would also like to recognize my PhD supervisor, Dr. Rachel Silvey, and my doctoral committee for providing guidance and support throughout the dissertation process. Lastly, thank you to all my family and friends, including Thom, Sumaya, Killian, Ashley, and many others, who were always ready to read drafts of this paper. Your conversations, edits, and support have not gone unnoticed.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1. Although all frontline staff interviewed for this study are employed within nonprofit organizations, the. organizations may be receiving public funding to carry out their services. There is a blurring of lines between clear local state actors and nonprofit employees, because programs and services are dependent on particular funding, which is a mix of public and private funds. Frontline staff working within non- profit organizations is the language used for this article.2. Given the scope and geographical framing of this study, the literature examined focuses mainly on the. Ontario context. Though there are some studies, which offer a comparative analysis of settlement programming in Canada (McGrath & McGrath, Citation2013), this paper highlights the role of neoliberal restructuring on housing and settlement services in Ontario.3. Some of the service provider organizations that participated in this research project have other locations in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). However, all research participants worked mainly in their primary offices in the City of Toronto, which also includes Scarborough and Etobicoke, and spoke to those experiences.4. Recent reports generated by service provider organizations and coalitions have collected data on the impacts of COVID-19 on service delivery, this article focuses on pre-pandemic challenges, which continue to exist and are heightened within the context of COVID-19.5. Given the limitation of private spaces within the office, only three of the interviews were audio-recorded. Each recording was manually transcribed. The principal investigator conducted detailed fieldnotes for the remaining interviews. Each interview was analyzed manually using deductive coding.6. Though housing and settlement supports are central to this study, frontline workers often adopt multiple roles and provide wrap-around services or referrals to other social services, including health, education, and employment.Additional informationNotes on contributorsMary-Kay BachourMary-Kay Bachour is a post-doctoral researcher at the Women and Gender Studies Institute, based at the University of Toronto, where she explores the housing challenges faced by refugee women in the city of Toronto, Canada. Following her Master’s degree at the Women and Gender Studies Institute, Dr. Bachour completed her PhD at the University of Toronto in the Department of Geography and Planning. Her doctoral research delved into the critical realm of social service provision and housing for government-assisted refugees within Toronto. Dr. Bachour also teaches an array of courses at the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto, Ontario.