sanctuary
For the past 3 weeks, I have been working to try to find housing help for one asylum seeker in particular who has been living in a semi-isolated, not healthy situation, and starting tomorrow, she will have a room to live in but no funding or transportation to get food (and my organization doesn't have it's own food or housing resources.) She cannot legally work and is dependent on others (like most of our clients unless they live in Jersey City and work at gas stations under the table...) but has not been able to network to find someone else to take her in. I have been trying to establish possible connections for better housing for her, both in the small African community around here and my own church connections and a network called Sanctuary. In the meantime, we have to wait...
SANCTUARY: MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY TO "ADOPT" AN AFRICAN REFUGEE IN NEED OF A HOME IN NJ
"Claire" is a 25 year old woman from Cameroon. She is incredibly sweet, softspoken and intelligent. Until two years ago, she was pursuing her masters in human rights and had high hopes of one day being a lawyer. Those dreams were cut short after she was arrested, tortured and falsely accused of being a dissident and a rabble rouser after participating in student community organizing. After a narrow escape from those that were persecuting her, Claire had to go into hiding for several months before being able to obtain a visa to come to America as a summer student intern. If she were to return to Cameroon, she would be rearrested and killed.
She is now seeking asylum in the United States and has a pro bono attorney representing her case. However, Claire is in need of housing. After being in two precarious living situations since this past fall, Claire is living in a place where it is incredibly difficult for her to access transportation and now is dependent on food banks and soup kitchens. She does not have a permit for work and cannot legally support herself until she is granted asylum. Claire is receiving case management and support from a non-profit organization in Jersey City, but they are very limited in terms of how they can help her with food and shelter.
"Claire" is just one of many people fleeing for their lives from oppressive governments on account of their beliefs, ethnicity and political views. Right now, in Jersey City, Newark and even New Brunswick and Montclair, there are more than 100 people seeking help from the International Institute of NJ as they are waiting to put their lives back together in a process that can take many months or even years. Some of them, like Claire, have had to bounce from bad living situation to bad living situation, unable to legally work and support herself. If you would like to consider being a part of the Sanctuary network of churches and temples in Bergen and Passaic counties and receive email alerts and updates for when there is a refugee like Claire in need of an adoptive home or if you would like more information, please contact...
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat..." Isaiah 25:4
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the LORD." Jer. 22:16
Luke 10: 22-37
SANCTUARY: MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY TO "ADOPT" AN AFRICAN REFUGEE IN NEED OF A HOME IN NJ
"Claire" is a 25 year old woman from Cameroon. She is incredibly sweet, softspoken and intelligent. Until two years ago, she was pursuing her masters in human rights and had high hopes of one day being a lawyer. Those dreams were cut short after she was arrested, tortured and falsely accused of being a dissident and a rabble rouser after participating in student community organizing. After a narrow escape from those that were persecuting her, Claire had to go into hiding for several months before being able to obtain a visa to come to America as a summer student intern. If she were to return to Cameroon, she would be rearrested and killed.
She is now seeking asylum in the United States and has a pro bono attorney representing her case. However, Claire is in need of housing. After being in two precarious living situations since this past fall, Claire is living in a place where it is incredibly difficult for her to access transportation and now is dependent on food banks and soup kitchens. She does not have a permit for work and cannot legally support herself until she is granted asylum. Claire is receiving case management and support from a non-profit organization in Jersey City, but they are very limited in terms of how they can help her with food and shelter.
"Claire" is just one of many people fleeing for their lives from oppressive governments on account of their beliefs, ethnicity and political views. Right now, in Jersey City, Newark and even New Brunswick and Montclair, there are more than 100 people seeking help from the International Institute of NJ as they are waiting to put their lives back together in a process that can take many months or even years. Some of them, like Claire, have had to bounce from bad living situation to bad living situation, unable to legally work and support herself. If you would like to consider being a part of the Sanctuary network of churches and temples in Bergen and Passaic counties and receive email alerts and updates for when there is a refugee like Claire in need of an adoptive home or if you would like more information, please contact...
"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat..." Isaiah 25:4
"'He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the LORD." Jer. 22:16
Luke 10: 22-37
posted by jdances | 19.6.07
1 Comments:
"Claire" is doing ok for the time being... We got her some food donations and there's actually someone else that she knows from Cameroon that can give her help with transportation once in a while. We've also found a food pantry that is a 15 min. walk from where she is living, and I've really been encouraging her to try to take more initiative in finding a local church that maybe can help her...even if it's just to give her something to do during most days.
It's not an ideal situation, but she'll be alright. But we still hope to find something better.
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