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HOW YOU CAN HELP IN

THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY

14–20 JUNE REFUGEE WEEK FACT SHEET

WALKING WITH REFUGEES AND PEOPLE SEEKING PROTECTION

COVID–19 has affected so many within our community, but has greatly impacted people seeking asylum within our

diocese. Many have no access to any safety net of support.

This Refugee Week, you can make a difference and support people in desperate need.

Many seeking asylum and their families:

• Are excluding from JobKeeper, JobSeeker, Medicare or income assistance

• Have lost their jobs

• Cannot pay their rent and are facing homelessness

• Struggling to feed their families

• Facing a winter without heat

• Are facing destitution

WE ARE CALLED TO ACTION:

“In the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers and prisoners, we are called to see the face of

Christ who pleads with us to help,”

Pope Francis

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis, for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2020

*Statistics provided by House of Welcome and Jesuit Refugee Service

400%

77%

430

1100

WITHIN OUR DIOCESE*:

Eviction notices given to asylum seekers

including those with families, some living in informal,

difficult situations

MENTAL

HEALTH

House of Welcome & Jesuit Refugee Service

need to provide 430 food bags that feed 1100

women, men and children weekly

77% increase to request for

food bank items

Services facing a reduced level of

volunteers and donations

Increase in domestic

violence incidents

Dramatic increase in mental

health support needed

FOOD BAGS

NEEDED WEEKLY

PEOPLE FED WEEKLY

BY SERVICES

FOOD

BANK

REDUCED VOLUNTEERS

& DONATIONS

EVICTION

NOTICES

DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE

Emergency assistance calls

increased by 400%

EMERGENCY

ASSISTANCE

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HOW YOU CAN HELP IN

THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY

14–20 JUNE REFUGEE WEEK FACT SHEET

WALKING WITH REFUGEES AND PEOPLE SEEKING PROTECTION

WHAT WE CAN DO:

DONATE

HOUSE OF WELCOME

 stfrancis.org.au/house-of-welcome/make- donation-house-welcome

OR

JESUIT REFUGEE SERVICE

 jrs.org.au/donate-now

ITEMS NEEDED

• New winter blankets

• Basmati Rice

• Cooking Oil

• Long life milk

• Tinned tuna, red kidney beans, lentils,

chickpeas and fruit

• Biscuits & muesli bars

• Oats & cereal

• Tinned tomatoes

• Tea & Coffee

TOILETRIES

• Nappies (large sizes)

• Toothpaste & toothbrushes

• Shampoo

• Sanitary pads & napkins

• Razors & shaving foam

• Deodorant (male & female)

• Soap

HOW TO RUN A FOOD DRIVE

1. Select a co–ordinator

2. Select drop-off point & time

3. Share what’s needed with your community as well

as when and where people can drop off items

4. Co-ordinator & team collects items & drops-off

items to House of Welcome or Jesuit Refugee

Service

TO ARRANGE DROP–OFF OF

ITEMS COLLECTED CONTACT

HOUSE OF WELCOME

 office@houseofwelcome.com.au

JRS

 amelia.savage@jrs.org.au

 zoe.grant@jrs.org.au

ADVOCATE

Sign the petition to make sure no one, including

people seeking asylum, gets left behind during

COVID-19:

 change.org/nooneleftbehind

RUN A FOOD DRIVE WITHIN YOUR PARISH