HANGING ON THE EDGE OF THE HOUSE: AFRICAN REFUGEES, HOUSING, AND IDENTITY IN METRO VANCOUVER by Jenny Francis B.A. (History), University of British Columbia, 2006 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in The Faculty of Graduate Studies (Geography) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) December 2009 © Jenny Francis, 2009 ABSTRACT For African refugees arriving in Metro Vancouver, housing is a crucial component of settlement and integration. Given Metro Vancouver’s expensive housing market, high levels of homelessness, and consistently low vacancy rate, how are they coping in Vancouver’s housing market? What barriers do they face and what are some possible solutions? By providing an overview of the housing challenges African refugees face and identifying gaps in available services, this study expands the knowledge base upon which improved settlement policy and service provision may be built. The results show that, due to a complex combination of factors, including lack of affordable housing, discrimination, low incomes, and long application processing times, African refugees are facing a housing availability and affordability crisis in Metro Vancouver that forces them to accept substandard housing which is unsuitable, inadequate, and unaffordable. These unstable conditions are both symptomatic and generative of other problems, including poverty, debt, hunger, and a high risk of homelessness. Importantly, the study also reveals how these material conditions, which are the effect of policies grounded in theoretical perspectives around multiculturalism and notions of Canadian identity, are reflective of those underlying ideological frameworks. The author also argues that an enhanced understanding of the historical roots of current discriminatory practices is required in order to effect positive social change for the future. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... v LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... vii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER II CONCEPTS AND CONTEXTS ............................................................................. 6 2.1 Diversity and domination ................................................................................................... 6 2.1.1 Troubling multiculturalism ............................................................................................ 6 2.1.2 Anti-black racism in the Canadian context .................................................................. 11 2.1.3 Racism and the socio-economics of refugees’ housing in Canada .............................. 20 2.2 Arrival and survival in Vancouver ................................................................................... 27 2.2.1 African settlement in British Columbia ....................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Living in Vancouver ..................................................................................................... 30 2.2.3 The Vancouver housing market ................................................................................... 34 2.2.4 Immigrant serving agencies in Vancouver ................................................................... 38 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY AND PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS ......................... 42 3.1 Research and power / Research as power ........................................................................... 42 3.1.1 Self-assessment: A decolonizing methodology? .......................................................... 44 3.2 The study sample ............................................................................................................... 48 3.2.1 Recruitment .................................................................................................................. 48 3.2.2 Interviews ..................................................................................................................... 49 3.2.3 Participant demographics ............................................................................................. 52 3.2.4 Participants’ basic housing conditions ......................................................................... 54 CHAPTER IV MAJOR STRUCTURAL FORCES: THE OUTER LAYERS ............................ 59 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 59 4.2 Lack of money .................................................................................................................... 61 4.2.1 Low incomes for racialised newcomers and refugees .................................................. 61 4.2.2 Low rates of government assistance ............................................................................. 66 4.3 Lack of information ........................................................................................................... 71 4.3.1 Inadequate orientation and follow up: GARs ............................................................... 71 4.3.2 Inadequate assistance for RCs ...................................................................................... 74 4.3.3 Weak social support networks ...................................................................................... 76 4.4 Shortage of affordable housing ........................................................................................ 79 4.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 81 iii CHAPTER V INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS: INSIDE THE ONION ...................................... 83 5.1 Private sector barriers ...................................................................................................... 83 5.1.1 Discrimination and exploitation in the private rental market ....................................... 83 5.1.2 Utility companies and billing agencies ........................................................................ 89 5.2 Public barriers ................................................................................................................... 91 5.2.1 CIC debt for GARs ....................................................................................................... 91 5.2.2 Long processing times for RCs .................................................................................... 93 5.2.3 Barriers to accessing subsidised housing ..................................................................... 95 5.3 Interactions with immigrant serving agencies ............................................................... 98 5.3.1 View from the outside .................................................................................................. 98 5.3.2 View from the inside .................................................................................................. 101 5.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 105 CHAPTER VI LAYERS UPON LAYERS: HOUSING AND… .............................................. 107 6.1 Health ............................................................................................................................... 107 6.2 Interaction with the criminal justice system ................................................................. 108 6.3 Lack of educational opportunities ................................................................................. 110 6.4 Family separation ............................................................................................................ 112 6.5 Psychological well being ................................................................................................. 115 6.6 The power of personality ................................................................................................ 117 6.7 Homelessness ................................................................................................................... 118 6.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 120 CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ 122 7.1 Summary .......................................................................................................................... 122 7.2 Policy implications .......................................................................................................... 125 7.3 Further research 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