Forced displacement and resettlement has become a largely urban phenomenon with more than half of the world’s refugees living in urban areas. In Canada, refugees not only face issues of social isolation but also struggle to make ends meet given the high cost of living in its metropolitan cities. Toronto hosts close to half of the resettled refugees in Canada, and has the highest childcare fees in the country. While subsidies are provided by the government, they have long waitlists and are often difficult to obtain. Research also shows that the gender employment gap is negatively correlated with access to affordable daycare services.

With traditional gender norms requiring women to prioritize childcare and men working, this perpetuates gender segregation in the household and limits educational and vocational opportunities to the women. This is occurring at a time when cities around the globe are struggling to maintain their timeless structures as they continue their economic growth.