On January 18, 2016, the first group of Syrian refugee families moved into their new Concert rental homes. Concert committed to provide accommodations for 15 families for one year within the company’s Whitgift Gardens property in West Coquitlam at a subsidized rate in line with refugee’s government housing benefits budget. Whitgift was seen as an ideal property within Concert’s rental portfolio to house these newcomers given that Coquitlam, and the broader Tri-Cities area, is already home to many recent immigrants and supportive government agencies.
Two additional families will be accommodated at the Langara Gardens rental property in Vancouver that Concert co-owns with Peterson.
“Concert is in the fortunate position to offer these suites to families in need, and in the process do our part to help Syrian refugees transition into their new lives in our country,” said Brian McCauley, Concert’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Given recent world events, we looked upon this as a way we could make a real and meaningful difference.”
Concert has been working hand-in-hand with Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSBC), which is the lead agency coordinating the arrival and settlement of government-assisted refugees from Syria. Those interested in finding out how they can help, please visit the ISSBC website.