Non-status residents who live and work in Toronto face a number of barriers in accessing critical health, legal, housing and employment services that place them at greater risk of poverty and poor health and make them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Recent changes to federal immigration policy have made it increasingly difficult for newcomers to acquire permanent immigration status, forcing people to live and work in constant fear of detention and deportation while they navigate the Canadian immigration system. Although non-status residents contribute to the economy through their labour and help fund social programs through sales and property tax dollars, they are denied access to a number of government funded programs and services.