Projects: Give shelter
Location: Australia
For the past 16 years, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has supported and empowered over 3,000 refugees and people seeking asylum every year, helping provide a warm bed, food, education, employment support and much more. The ASRC gives them hope for a safer, brighter future.
On the 14th of June 2023, we welcomed Asylum Seeker Resource Centre on the crisis experienced by families who have fled violence, war, and persecution. They are often stripped of their basic rights in Australia while waiting for an outcome to their legal status.
People often live in limbo for years after they’ve fleed. During this time, more and more people, without the right to work, become destitute. Women and children are especially vulnerable during this time.
Key insights
What does Asylum Seeker Resource Centre do?Â
Jana Favero:
ASRC was founded on the principle of assisting people seeking asylum whose rights are denied while in Australia. We currently support around 7,000 asylum seekers in Victoria, including those in detention within Australia or offshore in places like Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Our services encompass food programs, legal aid, housing, education, employment, and more. Notably, asylum seekers lack access to mainstream social support in Australia.
What are the impacts of the funds raised for Asylum Seeker Resource Centre through the i=Change platform?Â
Jana Favero:
While $174,000 in funds raised may seem modest, it’s crucial for ASRC. As we rely solely on individual, business, and organisational support (we are independent of government funding), every contribution matters.
Many asylum seekers cannot work, and we assist about 1,700 people, including families with children, through our bi-weekly grocery store. We spend $70,000 per month solely on providing groceries to those with no income, making donations essential for this critical service.
Every $15 raised gives a person seeking asylum in Australia a night of safe housing
Be the change today.Â
