Footscray Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is quickly running out of savings, with the executive team warning they only have a month and a half before they will be forced to close its doors.
ASRC chief executive and founder Kon Karapanagiotidis said the centre needs the community’s help to keep its doors open after supporting those seeking asylum and exposing the cruelty of Australia’s refugee policies.
“Despite sticking to our budgets, cost of living and inflationary pressures means public donations are down 45 per cent since July 2022,” he said.
“Despite a number of interventions, such as reducing our workforce by 10 per cent in August last year, our savings are running out and we have just six weeks to save the ASRC from stopping to deliver critical services.
“We are asking the community to help save a movement of hope, welcome and compassion.
Donations help the ASRC keep its doors open and provide food, housing, healthcare, legal support and other essential services to the 7000 people who rely on its services every day.
Of the people seeking asylum in Australia, 97 per cent have no access to social support systems, including income, housing as well as educational assistance and legal aid.
Mr Karapanagiotidis said the ASRC still has a lot of work left to do.
“We are asking people to do what they can,” he said.
“There are thousands and thousands of people seeking asylum who have been denied their basic rights by governments that seek to dehumanise and harm.
“The compassion, care and humanity shown by the community are often a much-needed last resort for people resisting such cruelty.”
Details: donate.asrc.org.au/donatetoday
