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4 bd 3 ruary 10, 2022 | é ¢ SECURING HOUSING BEA é * CHALLENGE FOR 2 MANY IMMIGRANT § FAMILIES & MANSOOR TANWEER 2 mtanweer@metroland.com The following is parttwo ofa three-part series explor- ing experiences for immi- grant families coming to Halton. Next week, we take a look at support services in place J for newcomers to the “Hemav Mahanta, an im- migrant of Indian origin, moved to Canada in 2018 af- ter living in numerous countries like the United States, China and the Unit- ed Kingdom. He now calls Halton home. id his fair share of challenges when coming to Canada. Adjust- ing to the extreme cold and the Canadian social cul- ture were among them. But the biggest obstacle was establishing a line of cret tial roadblock to buying a house. “The challenge was that, approving the trail of pa- perwork to show that the money was mine for the de- posit when I'm seven days into a country w: cult," recalled Mahanta, Securing financing for housing can be a major challenge for many immi- grants, as Murryanna Ba- hadoor's experiences as a real estate agent suggest. “Moving to Oakville as an immigrant, straight out of your country, it's a differ- ent cost and a different kind of money you're bringing into the country,” PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN HALTON said Bahadoor, herself an immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago. "As opposed to somebody who moved here and they're thinking, 'Oh, I should move to Oakville. Oh no, it's too expensive. It's different. It's not for ev- eryone." Between 2011 and 2016, the last census period, the population of Halton grew by oo more © than ¢ oom the Roughly] 160, 900 vot ihe ‘close to 550,000 people in the re- lenges typically faced by newcomers is finding ade- quate housing. "The housing market is now too tough to buy hous- Tsai, community volunteer who often as with immi- Tsai has observed that igrants] are ac- tually going to Milton... be- cause Milton's cost of hous- ingi is much less than Oak- Teal has also observed thatin the Asian communi- ty, members of the extend- ed family, sometimes two generations, pool together their money to buy a house. "Home prices definitely are a challenge. No doubt about it. But people find different ways to overcome Graham Paine/Metroland Like many immigrants moving to Halton in recent years, Hemav Mahanta faced challenges in settling here. this." Kim Jenkinson of the Halton Multicultural Council said that Halton is is usually the place of "se ond migration.” Inother words, many im- migrants will settle in cities closer to the airport — like — before eventual- ly moving to Halton. "Some people, though, have done their homework before they've gotten here. But you really need to live ina place before you get to know it," she added. say they come to , Halton for the safety of the municipality. of them (come) because of their family or friends. They are already here and they know how good this city or this region is," she added. A — through and other supports. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With many im- migrant families settling in Halton in recent years, we wanted to examine what challenges face new- comers in settling here. TRY OUR NEW YELLOW LAB BLONDE ESPRESSO! Direct from the Roastery PY-VINV-Va-Ye Mate lipmxemcolelme lolol s ORDER ONLINE (@ BLACKCREEKCOFFEE.COM theifp.ca Mountainview Residence by the Glen The only, family owned & operated retirement home in Halton Hills. Mountainview Residents 222 Mountainview www.mounta receive the vaccine booster online as we grow to dose and are enjoying meet the needs of our ongoing activities residents and community! — 2" Located on the cusp » of the Hamlet of Glen Williams rth, Georgetown wresidence.com ly well being. See our new suite plans the best time of your life ety of food choices), along