ACAS Settlement Program - About Us

ACAS has a tradition of serving queer immigrants and refugees. Many of its pioneering members were queer immigrants living with/affected by HIV/AIDS. ACAS has taken a leadership role in building community partnerships to combat homophobia (Coalition against Homophobia Campaign) and heterosexism (Equality for Marriage Campaign), while promoting the health and well being of queer Asian women (QAW) and men (i-Rice). GenerAsians Together and QAY (Queer Asian Youth) are two programs that provide social spaces for families and youth to address sexuality and health in an open and sex positive environment.

Despite the success of ACAS led advocacy campaigns and program initiatives, immigration and settlement issues remain marginalized. Queer immigrants, refugees, and non-status PHAs are presented with multiple barriers that affect their health and impede successful integration into Canadian society (CAAT, 2007). Toronto is Canada’s largest immigrant receiving city and home to Canada’s largest LGBTQ population.

In November 2005, the governments of Ontario and Canada signed the Canada-Ontario immigration agreement. Through this agreement, the federal government provides funding to assist newcomers to integrate into Canadian society. In 2007, ACAS submitted a funding application under Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Immigration, Settlement, and Adaptation Program. ACAS’s funding application was unique in that it explicitly stated a commitment to provide LGBTQ focused settlement services. The approved funding application signalled a new era in program delivery at ACAS, and in November 2007 the settlement program was officially launched.