The Housing New Canadians research project aims to:
• better understand the experiences of recent immigrants and refugees in securing housing in greater Toronto;
• learn about the underlying processes contributing to the marginalization of new Canadians in the housing system;
• examine how 'race' (as a social construction, not a biological category), gender, and class (socio-economic status) affect the process of finding housing;
• involve immigrant communities in the research process and contribute to greater community self-awareness;
• contribute to theory and social policy in this area; and
• identify further research that needs to be done.

This research focuses on access to housing - that is, the process by which housing is obtained. Most previous studies have examined outcomes, such as the nature and extent of residential segregation of immigrants.