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Sikh-Canadian Real Estate Developer Offers Homes To Syrian Refugees
CBC NEWS, et al
Daljit Singh Thind, CEO and founder of Thind Properties, is offering seven units from one of his company's developments in the suburb of Burnaby (British Columbia, Canada) to give Syrian refugees a place to stay.
Vancouver real estate developer Daljit Singh Thind is offering several homes to Syrian refugees.
Daljit was named one of Vancouver's most powerful people in 2014. He immigrated to Canada from Punjab over two decades ago.
Daljit has been building homes in Metro Vancouver for the past 16 years and is now offering seven units in the 2400 block of Kingsway because of his own experience as a immigrant coming to Canada.
25,000 refugees are set to come to Canada from Syria by the end of the year.
Daljit says starting from nothing in a new country isn't easy.
"We in the Sikh community ... that's what our teaching [is] by our Gurus," he said. "Give back to the community, whatever you make."
Each unit he is offering has two to four bedrooms and can house one family. He says his company will contribute furniture, but also is looking for donations.
"We are all immigrants, so we are very sensitive to people who are homeless, coming from different countries," said Charan Singh Gill of Progressive Intercultural Community Services, which has asked for donations of housing.
Immigration Services Society of British Columbia says it's received more than 500 offers to house the Syrian refugees coming to this particular Canadian province.
"They vary tremendously from apartment units to rooms in people's homes," said Chris Friesen with the organization.
Friesen says the intent is not to displace anyone currently housed or those currently needing shelter in B.C.
"We don't want to compete with the homeless," he said.
The society plans to meet with housing groups in early December to find a way to share services.
Meanwhile, Daljit says he's willing to house Syrian families for as long as they need it.
"If the same thing happened to you or your family, how would you feel, right?" he said. "So that [motivates] me."
[Courtesy: CBC, Huffington Post. Edited for sikhchic.com]
November 23, 2015