Accommodation for people seeking asylum

Baptcare Sanctuary program

Baptcare Sanctuary provides supported transitional accommodation in Melbourne for people seeking asylum who have experienced homelessness while awaiting the outcome of their application for a Protection visa or Humanitarian claim.

Residents at Baptcare Sanctuary have been forced to flee their homeland under the threat of persecution because of their race, religion, political beliefs, membership of a particular social group or ethnicity. Many are survivors of torture; all are survivors of trauma and emotional distress.

Sanctuary's transitional accommodation and related support services are provided to help empower homeless people seeking asylum to live an independent life in the Australian community.

Referrals for housing are made by our referral partners: the ASRC, the Red Cross, AMES and Life Without Barriers.

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Sami fled from Lebanon because he feared for his life
In this video he shares his journey as a Person Seeking Asylum in Australia and how his life has been transformed. From detention and homelessness to a life of hope and independence…

Sami has recently received his protection visa and is now on track to soon becoming fully independent.

Safety and opportunity for people seeking asylum

Baptcare has a Sanctuary facility in the Brunswick suburb of Melbourne. Additional housing is provided in the community through the Baptcare Sanctuary Houses of Hope Project and in conjunction with Baptcare Affordable Housing we manage a further 5  community-based properties housing.

In partnership with churches, private donors and Baptcare Affordable Housing, Sanctuary provides accommodation for people seeking asylum in both rooming house and community housing settings. Since its commencement in 2008, Sanctuary has housed over 500 individuals. Baptcare is committed to continuing to provide housing for people seeking asylum and their families in an appropriate mix of housing stock including expanded social housing.

If you are interested in partnering with Baptcare to help provide more housing to those in need, please contact us.

The Sanctuary casework service offers support for people seeking asylum and prepares them for their future through the use of strength-based, person-focused, systemic and culturally appropriate approaches to improving their wellbeing, independence and social participation.

A key focus of the service is to increase residents’ capacity to secure and maintain independent housing in the community.

Many of the people supported by Sanctuary receive no income and are not allowed to work. Myki top-ups and supermarket vouchers are provided by Sanctuary as an essential requirement to live and travel.

Sanctuary also runs a Foodbank that, in partnership with Second Bite, Oz Harvest and the Vic Foodbank, provides food for over 50,000 meals per year.

On site volunteer led English classes provide opportunities for people seeking asylum to improve their English competency, ability to engage in the Australian community and their likelihood of gaining employment.

On site volunteer led English classes provide opportunities for people seeking asylum to improve their English competency, ability to engage in the Australian community and their likelihood of gaining employment.

Baptcare provides spiritual care by inviting people seeking asylum to nurture their spiritual wellbeing through conversation, ritual, social engagement and physical and creative activities.

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Sanctuary asylum seeker information

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