Emergency help for Freddy

My name is Katherine. I work at a refugee support centre in Israel/Palestine/the Holy Land, but I’m writing this in a personal capacity to ask for your help if you’re in a position to. I first met Freddy about a year ago, towards the end of 2 years of COVID pandemic and lockdowns. Freddy is a refugee from the Congo, who came here alone. Before the pandemic he supported himself with full-time work in a restaurant kitchen, and in his home country he worked as a civil servant. In 2019 he was diagnosed with glaucoma. Early on in the pandemic he lost his hospitality job and couldn’t find another. He used up his savings to afford rent and medication costs, until he couldn’t afford the medication. His eyesight rapidly deteriorated until he was 100% blind in one eye and 90% blind in the other. My colleagues and I met Freddy at that point in January 2022, when he was malnourished and one month out from being homeless because he had no money left to pay rent.

An amazing volunteer-run, mutual aid organisation raised enough money from their community for Freddy’s rent and medication for the last year. They also supply him with weekly food boxes, which thankfully will continue indefinitely. Unfortunately the money won’t though; there’s enough left for only one more month.

I really believe we and Freddy have tried everything in and out of the box to find a solution. We’ve helped him search and apply for many jobs, but without the local language or eyesight it’s almost impossible to find something that’s suitable and safe. He’s worked hard in two separate cleaning jobs and been let go both times because of his blindness. A legal organisation has taken his case to court to ask for some kind of welfare support or healthcare for him, but it was rejected. And lastly we’ve requested the UNHCR to resettle him to a country that provides basic disability support, services and healthcare he needs, but the process will take over 6 months. Resettlement in another country is the only viable long-term solution for someone in his position; my aim here is to avoid him from becoming homeless and his health deteriorating again before he has a chance to get there.

Basically we need to raise some short-term funds urgently. Here’s the numbers:

Freddy’s rent per month: 1500 NIS ($610 AUD)

Freddy’s glaucoma medication per month: 200 NIS ($81 AUD)

Total amount needed for 1 month: 1700 NIS ($692 AUD)

Total amount needed for 3 months: 5100 NIS ($2076 AUD)

Total amount needed for 6 months: 10200 NIS ($4172 AUD)

When the current funding runs out, Freddy will become homeless or end up in a temporary shelter. Any break in his medication will mean he loses the last bit of his eyesight, which he uses to get himself around and remain independent. I just can’t see this happen after all the progress of the last year and the health and wellbeing he’s regained. And especially when the solution is so simple: a short-term amount of money. Please help if you can and thank you so much. I'll be providing updates to anyone who donates.