University of Toronto

Negotiating Citizenship and Social Rights on the Frontlines of Social Service Delivery (2008-2009)

Principal Investigator: Rupaleem Bhuyan, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Co-Investigators: Davina Bhandar (Trent University), Jean McDonald, (York University)
Community Partners: Wendy Komiotis (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, Rebecca Rodgers (Nellie’s) Jane Kail (Sistering), Harmy Mendoza (Woman Abuse Council of Toronto), Notisha Massaquoi (Women’s Health in Women’s Hands), Alethia Lewis (YWCA Beatrice House)
Funded by: CERIS-The Ontario Metropolis Centre


This proposed research will examine how discourses of citizenship and illegality are constructed through social service delivery to immigrants with precarious status. The foci of the proposed research are: 1) how immigration status and citizenship influence everyday encounters with social service providers; 2) how service providers manage the sensitive identity information fro service users, and 3) how documentation requirements as proscribed by funders potentially impact an organization’s ability to provide comprehensive services to those in need. This study will focus on domestic violence services as a means to examine access to social and health services for immigrants in times of crisis at which time such services are particularly needed for safety and recovery from abuse.