COW – Support for Asylum Claimants – May 28, 2026
Interim Housing Assistance Program
- Through Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), we're investing in sustainable temporary housing for asylum claimants.
- Provinces, territories, and municipalities manage shelters. IHAP provides funding based on local needs and priorities, including reception centres and transitional housing.
- Since 2019, we've invested about $1.9 billion, and the Spring Economic Update 2026 includes $564 million to extend through 2030.
- Asylum claims and temporary housing pressures are declining.
- We continue to monitor pressures and work with partners.
Interim Federal Health Program
- Interim Federal Health Prgram (IFHP) is tightly managed, and provides temporary health coverage to asylum claimants who are not yet covered by a provincial or territorial insurance health plan.
- IFHP covers basic health care benefits, such as hospital and physician services, and limited supplemental health care benefits, with co-payments applying to these supplemental products and services.
- Benefits align with supports offered by provinces and territories.
- Coverage ends once asylum claimants qualify for provincial health care insurance as protected persons or once they are safely removed from Canada.