LATEST PUBLICATIONS
- NEWSLETTER June 2010
(Read below OR to download PDF select and click filename above right)
- NEWSLETTER November 2009
(To download PDF select and click filename above right)
- ANNUAL REPORT 2008
(To download PDF select and click filename above right)
1. HOTHAM MISSION ASP NEWSLETTER
June 2010
OVERVIEW
October 2009 to March 2010
Hotham Mission ASP works with the most vulnerable asylum seekers - children, women and men who have little or no income and face homelessness. Many struggle with physical or emotional trauma, isolation and mental illness. Some have endured periods of detention.
Hotham Mission ASP provides:
- professional casework support
- housing
- a basic living allowance (BLA)
- help with utilities and emergencies
- a volunteer program of one-to-one support (LinkUP)
- men's and women's support groups
- State and national policy advocacy
- research towards a better reception framework for the future
YOUR GIFTS AT WORK - OCTOBER 2009 TO MARCH 2010
In the six months October to March, Hotham Mission ASP:
- Provided casework support and services for 209 people from 26 countries, including 53 children
- Housed, or helped to house 88 people, who faced homelessness
- Provided a Basic Living Allowance, Food Vouchers and/or Emergency Relief to 79 people.
Hotham Mission ASP's supporting churches, donors and volunteers provided:
- 28 houses; and
- 35 LinkUp partnerships
Hotham Mission ASP operates at very low cost, thanks to in-kind support from Hotham Mission, UCA Share, UCA Funds, Our Community, and housing donors. We provide more than $2 million in services to asylum seekers annually, at an overhead cost of about $200,000. Almost all income has been from from public donations and philanthropic grants. Hotham Mission ASP's Annual Report for 2009 will be out shortly and available at our website. If you would like to order a printed copy please email asp@hothammission.org.au or call 03 9326 8343.
CHANGES IN POLICY
On April 2010, the Government suspended the processing of new asylum applications from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. This is a disappointing move given the high rate of protection claim approvals, to date, of claimants from both of these countries. The situation in both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan may in time change sufficiently to result in a lower approval rate, but suspending the processing now is an extreme measure. Hotham Mission ASP has highlighted the impacts of longer term detention on any asylum claimant, and has called on the Minister for Immigration to ensure that priority is given to transferring any children and families to the mainland. At the time of writing, the Government is urgently exploring options to find housing for asylum seekers they are moving from Christmas Island. The recommendations of Hotham Mission ASPs reception housing research, which will be publicly available in June, provide the most viable, fair and compassionate, long term framework for housing and reception.
More positively, the Victorian Government has announced two measures to help asylum seekers in the community. Concessions on public transport have been extended to asylum seekers for the first time, whilst first time funding for asylum seeker communities was announced in the May Budget. $300,000 will be provided in 2010-2011, and 1.3 million in 2011-2012, to assist "asylum seekers who lack access to essential services" and to contribute to "continuation of the Refugee Action Plan". No further details have been announced.
CRITICAL NEEDS
Housing costs, and funds for humanitarian appellant children and families
Hotham Mission ASP is the main provider of housing for the most vulnerable asylum seekers. Access to safe, affordable housing is the critical factor determining whether families and individual asylum seekers can escape severe poverty and further trauma, and go forward while they await the outcome of their claims for protection.
At the beginning of winter 2010, Hotham Mission ASP can't meet the demand for housing assistance because of: the escalating cash on-costs associated with donated housing; a growth in the number of cases where it would be appropriate to provide short term rent assistance rather than move a family or client; and severe stress on our capacity to provide case management for people in tenancies we also manage. Housing on-costs include moving and establishment costs and utilities. Among the most vulnerable are "humanitarian appellant" children. These are children of families who are lawfully appealing to the Minister for Immigration for leave to remain in Australia on humanitarian grounds. These children receive no government funded support, and those whose parents have not been able to get work may be completely without income and vulnerable to destitution.
Hotham Mission ASP has just published a major research report on "The Convention on the Rights of the Child as it applies to Humanitarian Appellant Children" and is leading negotiations with the Government to reform existing programs so that children will not be vulnerable to destitution. The Commonwealth Government is interested to ensure children do not suffer destitution, but they have not yet extended the assistance scheme to provide for these families.
KAREN'S STORY
A child's experience.
Karen is a young woman, now 16 years old, from Southeast Asia, who came to Australia seven years ago. She fled violence in her country with her father and a cousin. Like so many asylum seekers she was torn from dearest loved ones, including grandparents, and her mother who had disappeared.
Karen is a talented artist and netballer, and though she gets on at school, she has suffered isolation and difference because she is the only asylum seeker, and her family is extremely poor. Her father has trauma- related health issues and is not fit enough to work. They have a small income from her cousin's occasional work, which covers very basic necessities. Otherwise, Karen has relied on housing and food vouchers from Hotham Mission ASP, and help from friends.
Hotham Mission ASP has also provided a Basic Living Allowance when her cousin has Karen's Story A child's experience. been without work. Without this combination of support, Karen's life in Australia would have included periods of homelessness and potentially hunger.
Karen's family have been referred to a small government funded programme which could provide more support and financial security to them, but have so far remained on the waiting list while the program is full.
RUN MELBOURNE FOR HOTHAM MISSION ASP
with Asemanew and Innocent
Hotham Mission ASP is gathering a fundraising team for Run Melbourne 2010 under the leadership of two inspiring young African men, Asemanew and Innocent (shown above). We'd love for you to take part!!
The Age 'Run Melbourne' is a community fun run on Sunday July 18. We're hoping that groups and individuals from churches and the community will join the Hotham team, to raise money, show support for compassion and justice, and simply enjoy a great day of fun and fitness.
Asemanew is an accomplished runner, and Innocent is an equally passionate footballer. They fled violence in Ethiopia and Rwanda, and gained asylum in Australia. Part of their story, is Hotham Mission ASP's story - to provide casework, housing, money, advocacy - hope!This July, Asemanew and Innocent are leading, and asking us to follow them, in a great cause.
You can run or walk 5km, or run 10km or a half-marathon. We'll have T-shirts, optional training sessions and a picnic on the day. We're hoping to raise $50,000 to help house the most vulnerable asylum seekers.
Please register now! Go to www.asp.hothammission.org.au for the easy steps and for more information, or call Michael on 03 9326 8343.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Hotham Mission ASP volunteers make an enormous contribution to the wellbeing of asylum seekers in Melbourne. Our volunteer programs in include:
- Housing support volunteers: We urgently need people to help our clients: look for accommodation; talk with real estate agents; and move.
- The LinkUP friendship program: LinkUP is a critical and mutually enriching program of 1-to-1 friendship and support.
- Women's and Men's Groups: Meets monthly for mutual support, learning, and activities. The Women's Group is funded by the Victorian Women's Trust.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Advocacy and research: Hotham Mission ASP-led teams have completed two groundbreaking research reports to be publically released in May. The reports separately propose a "reception housing framework for asylum seekers in Australia" and extension of welfare programs to ensure that Australia upholds its obligations under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, by ensuring that children of families awaiting the outcome of humanitarian appeals are not in danger of destitution or homelessness. Caz Coleman, continues to push for these critical reforms in the Council for Immigration Services and Status Resolution (CISSR), which advises the Minister for Immigration.
- Committee and Staff: Maureen Postma has joined the Hotham Mission ASP Management Committee as Chair. Maureen's wonderful background includes General Secretary of the Victorian Council of Churches. Also joining is marketing and financial expert Peter Thompson. Jagdev (Jag) Singh has rejoined the casework team, while specialist Tenancy Worker, Emma Pullen, began in late May.
|
