The Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield, the Fondation de l'Hôpital du Suroît and the Fondation de l'Hôpital de Vaudreuil-Soulanges have partnered to create a new Emergency Fund to make last-resort financial assistance available to newcomers.

Administered by the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield, the Emergency Fund will support the basic transportation, food and housing needs of people in immigration situations. Assistance will be offered after a rigorous assessment of the immigrant person's or family's situation, and may be requested only once.

A growing need

In the winter of 2023, the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest welcomed its first cohort of nursing students graduating from outside Canada. This cohort is currently completing their studies at Cégep de Valleyfield. The reality is that these new arrivals, and their families, have a variety of economic situations, and often live in very precarious conditions.

When difficulties with housing, food and transportation were identified by education professionals (working at the Cégep de Valleyfield), emergency assistance was requested from the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield.

"Holding an aid fund for Cégep de Valleyfield students, the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield supported the arrival of a first group of 13 students in January 2023 and a second group of 16 in May 2023, for a total of $12,600, which was distributed in financial aid to 29 foreign students. As there will be many cohorts over the next few years, we can't provide emergency assistance on our own," says Yves Trottier, General Manager of the Fondation du Cégep de Valleyfield.

This cry from the heart has been heard by the region's hospital foundations. The Fondation de l'Hôpital du Suroît and the Fondation de l'Hôpital de Vaudreuil-Soulanges have agreed to contribute $7,500 each for the next three years. This will enable the Emergency Fund to grow to $30,000 per year by 2025.

"Since healthcare workers will be working in the facilities we serve, it was only natural for our Board of Directors to respond to this appeal. We are honoured to be able to contribute to this regional project, which demonstrates the willingness of our organizations to work together," said Denis Lapointe, President of the Fondation de l'Hôpital de Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

International recruitment office

CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest has created an International Recruitment Office (BRI) to increase the pool of international candidates for strategic positions.

The BRI's mandate is to offer unparalleled service to new arrivals by providing personalized support to candidates at every stage of the process, right up to their reception in our care environments, in order to facilitate their integration as much as possible.

Recognizing the diverse needs of people with an immigrant background, the Emergency Fund project is a reserve created by foundations in the Montérégie-Ouest region to respond to critical situations experienced by new arrivals.