Since 1987, Sojourn House has been a lifeline for refugees arriving in Toronto. We provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, and wraparound supports that help people rebuild their lives with stability, dignity, and belonging.
Our work creates space for safety, dignity, and a sense of home. Many of our staff once arrived as refugees themselves, bringing lived experience, cultural insight, and compassion to every interaction.
Sojourn House is often a newcomer’s first home in Canada. We are where safety begins, community is found, and futures take shape.
Why We Exist
Across the world, more people are displaced than ever before.
· 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2024 (UNHCR Global Trends, 2025).
· Most remain in neighbouring countries, and only a small fraction ever access a safe resettlement pathway.
Canada has a proud history and legal commitment to protect refugees through the 1951 Refugee Convention and the UN Global Compact on Refugees. In 2023, Canada welcomed more than 51,000 resettled refugees, the highest number per capita worldwide (IRCC, 2024).
Here at home, the need is growing. On one night in 2024, 6,300 refugee claimants stayed in Toronto shelters, nearly half of all shelter users (City of Toronto, 2024).
Sojourn House provides the specialized housing, community supports, and compassionate care that transform arrival into opportunity. When refugees rebuild successfully, Canada becomes stronger economically, socially, and as a community rooted in compassion and opportunity.
Why It Matters to All of Us
When refugees are supported to rebuild, Canada thrives.
- Most refugees are working or self-employed within five years of arrival (Statistics Canada, 2024).
- Refugees are more likely than Canadian-born citizens to start a business (OECD, 2023).
- Refugees bring culture, creativity, and perspectives that strengthen our communities.
- Their stories remind us who we are as Canadians: compassionate, courageous, and welcoming.
The Sojourn Difference
Many of our staff once arrived as refugees themselves. They know what it means to flee danger, start again, and be welcomed with kindness.
That lived experience shapes everything we do. It creates a community of empathy, trust, and understanding — one that honours each resident’s journey and supports their goals.
Sojourn House is not just a shelter. It is often the first family newcomers meet in their new country.
