OTTAWA — Refugee agencies are racing to ready housing for thousands of Syrian refugees expected in the coming weeks.
The focus of the Liberal government's program is shifting from bringing over refugees with private sponsors to those being assisted by the government alone.
That's creating an urgent demand for temporary homes and the Red Cross says they're now working with the military to set up lodging on bases beginning next week.
The agency says they're preparing space for up to 4,000 people in the remaining weeks of the targeted resettlement program, though the government would not confirm those numbers.
The Liberals are aiming to resettle 25,000 Syrians by the end of February, with about 15,000 of them to be government-assisted.
As of January 6, just under 7,000 Syrians in total had arrived in Canada.
