URGENT CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Positive Action in Housing urgently needs money to pay for our humanitarian work with destitute asylum seekers. This appeal comes at a particularly pressing time over Christmas and New Year when we are struggling to keep people from having to rough sleep in the cold weather.

Our destitution fund is a crisis service for destitute asylum seekers in Scotland. We provide money for food, shelter through budget hostels or willing volunteers prepared to host our clients for short periods of time. We believe destitution is being used as a tool by the government to “starve” people out of the country. Crucially this is applied whilst our clients’ asylum cases are still ongoing, or while fresh evidence is being prepared or submitted. The Government’s destitution policy sees people being evicted from their homes, left with no money, forbidden recourse to public funds or homeless shelters, and STILL forbidden to take up paid work.

As well as giving information and advice, we are currently distributing around £250 per week. The fund relies on solely on individual donations. We anticipate greater pressure on the fund in 2007.

We are helping pregnant women, young people and the elderly from many of the war torn countries in the world.
Last week alone, we had 9 destitute asylum seekers including children comeinto our office. We never turn anyone away. We are often the last port of call for people with absolutely nowhere else to go.

In 2006, Positive Action in Housing assisted 160 destitute people. This year we are helping even more, including children.

Here’s one example of how we made a difference.

A couple of months ago, a woman from Congo came to see us. She received removal instructions from the Home Office and was told to go to the airport in order to be removed to Congo. As soon as she received this letter the prospect of returning terrified her and simply left her flat with her 9 year old daughter and 5 year old autistic son. They became destitute but were given floor space to sleep on by other asylum seekers. We stopped the family from going hungry by giving weekly payments from our destitution fund. We advised her to get in touch with a solicitor and lodge a fresh claim. After doing so, she was granted INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN. We are now assisting her to get permanent rehousing in a safe area of her choice in Glasgow.

Can you help us to help others? I am now writing to you to see if you, your organisation, or anyone you know would be willing to give money by one-off donation or a monthly standing order, 100% of which will go directly into the destitution fund.

£5 will provide one day’s food allowance for a destitute asylum seeker. £15 will pay for one night’s hostel accommodation. £25 will provide one week’s food and essential travel money for a destitute asylum seeker. We appreciate every donation no matter how small.

Please could you also forward this appeal to others on your contact list?

HOW TO DONATE

You can make a regular donation in one of three ways:

1. Complete a standing order form and post it back to us. We will then send it to your bank.

2. Set up payments from your bank account online through internet banking. Payment should be made to: ‘Positive Action in Housing Ltd’. The name of our bank is Clydesdale bank, Sort code: 82-20-00 Account Number: 40447119.

3. Click HERE to donate online regular payments. You should have your credit or debit card handy.