Glasgow: POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING WINTER APPEAL 2011

 (See below how to donate to this appeal  – please forward and circulate)

Positive Action in Housing and the Glasgow Destitution Network are working together to ensure that people who are at risk of destitution over Christmas and New Year break have access to survival essentials (Food, Hygiene Packs, Night Shelter and Cash Support).

On Tuesday, 20^th December 2011, we will be giving out Food Packs, Warm Children’s Clothing, Hygiene Packs, Cash Support and Useful Information Packs to Destitute Asylum Seekers. Hot drinks, soup and bread will be provided.

By delivering this Winter Surgery we aim to reach vulnerable destitute people (and their dependents) in order to provide support in the form of essential food items, warm children’s clothing, crisis payments and temporary shelter over Christmas and New Year. We also aim to keep contact with clients afterwards in order to assist in resolving destitution.

Organisations, faith groups and others wishing to make referrals of individuals for money, food, shelter or clothes support over the Christmas period should email details of clients you wish to refer (preferably by email)[1]. To make a referral, email home@paih.org with the subject heading “Destitution Referral Request” and provide, for each client, the following details:

Full names, dates of birth, nos. in household, current links with referring organisation or group, additional vulnerabilities, exceptional circumstances and any safety issues we should be aware of; please state clearly what is required and how you want us to help each client(s)). We will give appointments to referrals. Caseworkers will be on hand on the 20^th.

Volunteers and supporters are encouraged to bring donations of the following items, which will be given out free to those in need:

1.      Sealed food items, e.g. rice, pasta, sauces, tins of soup (non-meat), tea, coffee, chocolate.

2.      Toiletries and hygiene products e.g. tooth brush/toothpaste, men’s shaving products, soap, shampoo, deodorant.

3.      Washed and ironed winter clothes for children and babies (if possible, please mark clothes with ages and whether for boys/girls)

Please drop donations off on any working day (except Monday) between 10 am and 3 pm at Positive Action in Housing, 98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ between now and Tuesday 20 December 2011.

Anyone willing to volunteer or lend a hand on the day is asked to email home@paih.org.

Any caterers who can provide home made vegetable soup and fresh made bread/rolls to give out on the 20th should email home@paih.org .

The Winter Night Shelter will operate for destitute asylum seeker men and women from December 5th 2011 to 31st March 2012.  The shelters will be managed by the Glasgow Destitution Network – a network of organisations and individuals working to address the problem of destitution in Glasgow. The project aims to provide night shelters through 3 different locations to a maximum of 15 individuals each day of the week. We therefore urgently need:

1.      Volunteers from 8pm to 8am to manage the shelters

2.      Sleeping bags ( 45)

3.      Inflatable floor mats

4.      Dry food like sugar, tea, coffee, biscuits, jams and spreads.

Please drop off your donations at Positive Action in Housing’s offices at 98 West George Street, Glasgow (Tuesday to Friday between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm). For further information on volunteering/donations call Brian Cottrell on 07411766540 or e- mail brian.cottrell@iteams.org

To help as many destitute asylum seekers and their dependents over Christmas/New Year and throughout 2012, we need financial donations*.

1.      Give an online donation now using credit/debit card or paypal safely and securely via Justigiving by clicking here   (leave a message of support or donate anonymously – its up to you plus Justgiving collects the Gift Aid for us leaving us to concentrate on charitable work)

2.      Send a cheque made payable to PAIH Ltd (please mark the back of the cheque Hardship Fund – Xmas Appeal), and post to: Positive Action in Housing Ltd, 98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ.

3.      Give a regular, monthly donation by clicking here.

4.      To make a cash donation, please make an appointment by emailing home@paih.org.

For more info, email home@paih.org ; or call Sraboni or Suki on 0141 353 2220 Tue- Fri.

* Please note: this is the ONLY destitution appeal seeking donations which go directly to provide food, shelter and humanitarian support to destitute asylum seekers and their families in Glasgow (and other parts of Scotland).

In 2011, the Lifeline project provided food, shelter and practical advice and support to 303 destitute people. We also provided 1,930 nights of emergency shelter (through hostels and our volunteers). We also gave out over 998 payments totalling £29,100. This is a 31% increase since 2010.

63% of those who sought help were categorised as “additionally vulnerable”. These include the young, elderly, children within families, pregnant women (A pregnant woman may not be entitled to Section 4 support until her seventh month of pregnancy), women under the age of 25, and those with severe mental or physical health problems, people who have suffered some form of trauma, for example, torture, domestic violence or sex trafficking.

Destitute asylum seekers are forbidden to seek work or access public funds or emergency housing. The Hardship Fund is paid for by private donations. Without this project, they would be left street homeless and exposed to exploitation.

The Hardship fund gives crisis payments to people all over Scotland throughout the year who are at risk of being destitute. We currently give out a total of £2000 every month in crisis payments to vulnerable people, including pregnant women, young people, families, elderly people and those suffering from severe mental health problems, HIV or diabetes.

We desperately need donations to allow us to continue this much needed humanitarian work.

Positive Action in Housing is a Scottish Registered Charity No: SC027577 and a Company Limited by Guarantee Company Reg No: 158867. Registered Office: 98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ. Tel: 0141 353 2220 Fax: 0141 353 3882 e: home@paih.org

w: www.paih.org