The Diocese of Down and Connor has made an appeal for good quality, low rent accommodation in Belfast for newly arrived refugees.
The Diocesan Refugee Response team, appointed by Bishop Noel Treanor, is working closely with officials in Stormont who are making arrangements for a group of some 50-100 refugees expected to arrive before Christmas. The team sent out an urgent appeal through parish newsletters for “good quality, low rent accommodation” in the south Belfast area.
The team say there has been “an incredibly generous response” to the ‘Funds for Food’ appeal across the diocese, which is being used by the St Vincent de Paul and Trócaire to provide immediate aid to people fleeing persecution and war in Syria and Iraq.
There has also been a “wonderful response” to the appeal for clothes and other items which is being “generously” stored in the Parish Centre of St Agnes’ parish.
Anyone who can help with accommodation should contact the diocesan office on 028/048 90776185.