Afra Jamadar

This post explores how Somali communities in Etobicoke navigate access to health care within the context of housing insecurity, neighbourhood stressors, and culturally unsafe systems. Drawing on community experiences, it highlights barriers to mental and maternal health care, while also centering resilience, faith, advocacy, and the importance of culturally respectful services.

Malvern is home to many Sri Lankan Tamil newcomers who rebuilt their lives after fleeing war and genocide. Youth face cultural stigma, long wait times, and limited access to mental health care. Many prefer community led spaces like CanTYD where Tamil speaking staff offer safe, culturally grounded support. Their experiences show the need for accessible, culturally responsive mental health care for newcomer youth.

Starting over in a new country is never easy. For many immigrants and refugees, barriers shaped by the social determinants of health make access to care and stability difficult. Toronto’s Sanctuary City promise was meant to ensure inclusion, yet gaps remain between policy and lived reality. This series shares newcomer voices to highlight both the challenges and resilience of building a life in a new place.