Hosting Program -

We assist in matching Ukrainians with hosts on Vancouver Island.
To qualify, Ukrainians must hold a CUAET visa.
Hosts undergo a criminal record check, vulnerable sector check, and driving record check.

Regular Hosting Program Expectations

Hosts: are opening their homes and offering shelter and food for the first 90 days. They will likely also assist with adapting to life in Canada, completing the checklist, and so forth. Hosts are not responsible for childcare.
Host: Hosts must pass a criminal record check, vulnerable sector check, home inspectation, and driving record check.
Guests: Guests undergo a thorough background check in order to obtain a CUAET visa. Guests are responsible for ensuring documents are in order, for a job search, and so on.
Guests: We can also provide support and direction, but your new life in Canada will not be easy and we cannot do it for you. Our expectation is that you are self-sufficient within 90 days.
Guests: If you are staying with a host, you are NOT eligible for the Food Share Program for your first 90 days.

Exceptions for Short-Term/Emergency Hosts:

All security expectations remain the same (criminal record check, vulnerable sector check, home inspectation, and driving record check)
A minimum stay must be established and agreed to by both the guest and the host before the guest moves in.
Short term hosts are not required to provide food, however, it is appreciated if possible.
Guests staying with a short-term host who cannot provide food are eligible to access the Food Share Program.

Eligibility Criteria – Canadians (Hosts)

Hosts agree to provide shelter and food to Ukrainian guests for a minimum 90 days free of charge or, for short term hosts, as stated on their application. Hosts are not responsible for additional costs of living.
The Canadian government is currently not offering any monetary support to hosts.
Guests are expected to contribute to general household chores (ie. assisting with day-to-day cooking and cleaning) but ARE NOT to be providing free labour. Hosts may hire a guest to perform work, however the work must be a legal job that meets all employment standards in British Columbia.
Upon mutual agreement, hosts may choose to rent the space to guests after 90 days, at or below a reasonable market rate.
Hosts agree to undergo a Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, submit Driver’s Abstract (Driving Record), and in-home visit. There is NO CHARGE for these checks.
You will be asked to send your documents to [email protected]

Eligibility Criteria – Ukrainians (Guests)

We are unable to accept unaccompanied children (under 18 years old travelling alone) under any circumstances.

The HUVI team reserve the right to adjust these criteria as the situation changes:

Priority Criteria:

Single parents travelling with one or more children under the age of 18.
Individuals or families who were living in Ukraine on or after January 1, 2022.
People with documented permanent disabilities and their caregivers.
People who identify as LGBTQ+.
People with confirmed flights.

All Ukrainians coming to Canada need to understand the following:

Hosts must agree to provide shelter and food to Ukrainian guests for a minimum 90 days free of charge. Hosts are not responsible for additional costs of living.
The Canadian government is currently offering a one time payment of $3000 per adult and $1500 per child, and the BC government is offering a maximum of 6 months “Hardship Assistance.” See here for details. This is not enough money to live on and you will need to find a job quickly, unless you have substantial savings.
Guests are expected to contribute to general household chores (ie. assisting with day-to-day cooking and cleaning) but ARE NOT to be providing free labour. Hosts may hire a guest to perform work, however the work must be a legal job that meets all employment standards in British Columbia.
Upon mutual agreement, hosts may choose to rent the space to guests after 90 days, at or below a reasonable market rate.
Hosts agree to undergo a Criminal Record Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, submit Driver’s Abstract (Driving Record), and in-home visit. There is NO CHARGE for these checks.

Other things to note:

There is a shortage of hosts. Right now, we are able to provide hosts for approximately 5% of families who apply.
Smoking: The smoking culture in Canada is very different than in Ukraine. We don’t have any hosts at all who allow smoking indoors. We have a few who will allow it outdoors, but it’s rare. Generally speaking, it’s illegal to smoke within 10m of a building, or in outdoor public places like parks. So if you smoke, please think hard about this before coming to Canada.
Doctors: There is a huge shortage of doctors in Canada as a result of the COVID pandemic. British Columbia is one of the worst places hit by this shortage. Doctors prioritize pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies. Ukrainians coming to British Columbia are highly unlikely to find a family doctor.