Nowhere to turn: asylum seekers in Sydney need your help during the COVID-19 crisis
Dear supporters,
It's been a while since I've contacted you and I sincerely hope this email finds you happy, safe and well.
In just a few months COVID-19 has reshaped our entire world. Many of us have lost our jobs, are working reduced hours, have been ill or maybe have even lost a loved one to this deadly disease.
While the federal government has committed to JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments for Australians out of work, asylum seekers living in Sydney are now at their most vulnerable, with little government support, nor access to any COVID-19 payments.
Right now in Sydney 56 asylum seekers – including 13 children – are facing destitution. And even more are needing help as work disappears.
A press statement issued by the Refugee Council of Australia earlier this week stated that many thousands of people who fall into asylum seeker visa categories have no form of financial safety net to rely on if they have no work.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia already had a serious and growing problem of destitution among Bridging Visa holders, who were denied access to support under cuts made over the past two years to the Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program.
Now their situation is even more dire, and many have nowhere and no one to turn to.
Donate to Bridge for Asylum Seekers GoFundMe fundraiser today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/they-are-hungry-and-homeless
On behalf of all of those, everywhere, seeking asylum, thank you for your ongoing support.
Luisa Low, Australian Women in Support of Women on Nauru