A total of 18 grants were approved from 76 applications made in time for the January closing date.
This was the first grants round under the Trust’s new grants policy which was implemented in October 2011. Please click here to download a list of the grants approved.
Refugees in Melbourne suburbs are being exploited and living in dingy conditions according to a new report from Footscray Community Legal Centre. The report, which has been published with assistance from the Trust, contains disturbing accounts of dodgy real estate agents and exploitative landlords, amongst its revelations.
Laura Berta, community solicitor at Footscray Community Legal Centre and author of the report, said real estate agents often ignore refugees’ requests for repairs. “We helped an Iraqi family who lived with a collapsed roof for a month and a Burmese family who survived the winter with no heating or hot water,” Ms Berta said.
The report, Making It Home - Refugee Housing, is based on clients seen by the Footscray Community Legal Centre, and details the disadvantage refugees face due to language and cultural barriers. Refugees encounter unfair evictions and loss of bond money and struggle to represent themselves when an issue arises. Refugees also struggle to access affordable housing and as a result are at an increased risk of homelessness.
Our September grants round was one of the largest ever. We received over 180 applications seeking in excess of $12m, which was considerably more than the funds available for distribution. At their meeting in November, the Trustees approved grants of over $1.5m to 43 projects. Click here for the list of grants