Some refugees arrive needing more support than a private group can carry, and this is the answer. When an officer finds special needs, meaning a large family, trauma from violence or torture, medical disabilities, or the effects of systemic discrimination, the department looks for a sponsor and puts federal money behind the sponsorship. That sponsor is excused from the usual financial test.
(1)If an officer determines that special needs exist in respect of a member of a class prescribed by Division 1, the Department shall endeavour to identify a sponsor in order to make the financial assistance of the Government of Canada available for the purpose of sponsorship. A sponsor identified by the Department is exempt from the financial requirements of paragraph 154(1)(a).
(2)In this section, special needs means that a person has greater need of settlement assistance than other applicants for protection abroad owing to personal circumstances, including (a)a large number of family members; (b)trauma resulting from violence or torture; (c)medical disabilities; and (d)the effects of systemic discrimination.