Investigating the Social Service Needs of Hamilton's Muslim Community: Results from Key Informant Interviews

Abstract

Mishka Social Services (MSS) is a non-profit organization that aims to bridge the gap between current services in Hamilton and the Muslim population’s needs. MSS approached the Office of Community Engagement at McMaster University with an interest in learning about the barriers that the Muslim community faces in Hamilton accessing social services, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted these barriers. The primary goal of this research was to examine the barriers that the Muslim community in Hamilton faces when accessing social services and identify strategies to alleviate these barriers.