The Refugee Council of Australia has commissioned a report demonstrating how COVID-19 is hitting asylum seekers and temporary migrants incredibly hard.
The report estimates that nearly 19,000 refugees and asylum seekers on temporary visas will lose their jobs because of the current economic downturn.
Those who become unemployed or who leave the workforce are at high risk of poor physical and mental health, homelessness and destitution.
Using the Cumberland Local Government Area in western Sydney as a case study on the local impacts of the coronavirus, the region which encapsulates cities in the Diocese of Parramatta including Greystanes, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Merrylands, Guildford and Granville, could see an additional 2,587 refugees and asylum seekers on temporary visas lose their jobs – 767 of which are likely to become homeless.
Read the Refugee Council of Australia’s report here.
Read the article from ABC News here.
Two charities based in the Diocese of Parramatta are providing assistance to refugees and asylum seekers across Sydney.
To donate, please visit Jesuit Refugee Services: https://www.jrs.org.au/donate-now/ or House of Welcome: https://www.stfrancis.org.au/house-of-welcome/make-donation-house-welcome
If you are more interested in learning more about how you can help, please contact Patrice Moriarty on patrice.moriarty@parracatholic.org.
