TNO – The Neighborhood Organization’s

 TNO – The Neighborhood Organization’s services for refugees and immigrants

By Himani Sharma, Prabhnoor Kaur, Sedigheh Amiri, Shahana Shafiuddin, Theodora Burnette. 

Introduction: This is a reflection paper on TNO (The Neighbourhood Organization). We will discuss their services with the Immigrants and Refugees.

About TNO: TNO – THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ORGANIZATION is a community-based, multi-service agency providing a wide range of community services since 1985.​ Their Mission: “We strengthen the quality of life through services, engagement, partnerships, and advocacy.”​ Organizations Vision: “Neighbourhoods where everyone belongs and succeeds.”

Who are immigrants: Immigrants are people who come to live permanently in a foreign country.

Who are refugees: A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence.

TNO services for Immigrants:

TNO is a community-based non-profit charity organization. It supports and empowers low-income, marginalized, and newcomer communities across Canada.

It helps to adjust to life in Ontario.

Anyone new to Canada or struggling to settle down in Ontario is eligible to get free services from TNO to get informed and connected with the community so that they can adjust to Canada successfully. The services are free and open to all who are living in Ontario.

It is a proud member of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. It helps a newcomer adjust to Canadian culture and lifestyle.

TNO received the 2019 Settlement Agency Award as Winner.

Some Important Services for immigration by TNO:

-          One-on-one needs assessment and plan: A counsellor will sit with a client and discuss making a plan for the client's problems and setting the goals to solve them.

-          Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC): This program helps newcomers learn English language skills, which are essential for their social, economic, and cultural integration into Canadian society.

-          Information and Referrals Services: TNO gives referrals to community services, including government benefits, immigration and citizenships, employment, education and training, community resources, health, housing and much more.

-          Immigration and Citizenship: TNO arranges citizenship test preparation classes to prepare newcomers for the citizenship test. They also assist immigrants in filling out different forms.

-          Orientation to Life in Canada: TNO presented welcome events for the newcomers and helped them to have networking opportunities. They also arrange group information sessions to help them learn about settlement-related issues for newcomers.

-          Workshop & Volunteer Opportunity: TNO arranges the Orientation to Ontario (O2O) workshop series. They also give volunteer opportunities to the newcomers.

-          Mental Health: For youth seeking mental and emotional support, TNO provides counselling, support, and referral services.

-          HUB Settlement Services: Here, TNO provides in-person settlement services.

-          Itinerant Settlement Services: In this process, TNO assists newcomer students and families.

-          Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS): This program is designed for newcomer youth aged 15 to 30 who face barriers to employment.

-          Caregivers in Transition: TNO provides one-on-one sessions and group training for caregivers in transition.

Our views on Immigrants Services of TNO: Canada is world-known for its immigration. People worldwide come to Canada for settlement to have a better life and contribute to the Canadian economy.

These newcomers are from different cultures and races. They don’t have a clear idea about Canadian society, work experience, or fluency in the language. To prepare newcomers to join Canadian society and help them use their skills to contribute to the Canadian economy, need proper support and training.

TNO is doing a very good job for the newcomers. Their training and support are designed perfectly for the newcomers. However, there are some scopes to improve these services too. They might add childcare and support, an information center for the parents, support for food and basic income for a home until they get a good job or training. They will get help 6 months after arriving in Canada. Newcomers should have tour facilities. Here, the organization can take a tourist bus and help newcomers visit natural, cultural, or historical places. These steps would help them have a better, sounder life.

TNO Services for Refugees:

TNO supports refugees to help them to start a new life in Canada. They work with them and provide them with financial assistance, housing support, and health services. Because of this support, many refugees can improve their English language, find a job, and start to make friends and connections with newcomers. TNO’s mission is to ensure that every refugee gets the support they need to settle in their new home in Canada.

Our views on Refugee Services of TNO:

TNO has very well-organized policies and processes to help the refugee people in Canada. A newcomer can return to their country if they don’t like living in Canada. A refugee can’t do that. They came to save their or their families' lives from their home country to Canada.

Nowadays, we can see that many refugees can’t find shelter. So, they had to live on the side of the road. In winter, this is not an easy job. They have nowhere to go or any way to earn for themselves.

We know Canada is a rich country. Canada can do better for the refugees. That’s why TNO can have better solutions or more support for the refugees.

Conclusion:

TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization was previously known as Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. Last year, TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization supported over thirty-two thousand clients in settlement, housing, skill building, early childhood and youth programs, language, and employment programming.  What started as an afterschool program has expanded to support the surrounding communities in various aspects of social services.

 

References:

Ali, S., Brown, J., & Halder, R. and S. (2021, November 4). Support tno. TNO Toronto. https://donate.tno-toronto.org/

Oxford languages and google - english. Oxford Languages. (n.d.). https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

What is a refugee? definition and meaning: USA for UNHCR. USA for UNHCR. The Un Refugee Agency. (n.d.). https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/what-is-a-refugee/#:~:text=A%20refugee%20is%20someone%20who,of%20persecution%2C%20war%20or%20violence.

The neighbourhood organization. The Neighbourhood Organization. (n.d.). https://tno-toronto.org/