An entrepreneur in Toronto has pledged to donate at least $20,000 to house refugees that have been camped out in downtown Toronto for weeks.

While talking to Newstalk1010 recently, the founder of Paramount Fine Foods, Mohamad Fakih said: “They don’t need a handout; they need a hand up. Those people are exactly like [me when] I came here and a lot of us came here, and we need to step up for them and show them that we can do better.” 

He said volunteers and advocates are trying to find a place where the refugees can live and once the place is secure, he will foot the bill personally.

While Fakih urged every level of government to act faster on the issue that’s been described as a crisis, he asked other private citizens to pitch in what they can.

He said: “It’s our job. It’s our Canadian dream for us to protect and to send the message that no that’s not the welcome we want to provide them.”

His philanthropy seeks to bridge a gap that emanated from a deadlock between the city and the federal government which left dozens of refugees caught in the middle.

For weeks, about 30 people have slept outside of a shelter intake centre on Peter Street since Toronto started sending refugees to federal programs in June.

The refugees camp outside the intake and hope that an extra shelter spot will open up, but few do.

Fakih said: “Every single minute, every single day comes to these people when they’re sitting in the street, and they’re not safe.”