Long-term housing is required for about 650 airlifted Afghanistan refugees in the South East, a settlement agency says.
AMES Australia is seeking interest from property owners to rent to some of the 2000 refugees evacuated from Kabul last August are in Victoria.
A third of them are seeking to settle in the South East, where there’s an established Hazara community.
Just out of hotel quarantine, they are in short-term accommodation – such as units normally used by international students, an AMES spokesperson said.
“The majority are families – some of them up to 10 people – so they are seeking large-ish family homes.”
The rental housing market was difficult due to the impact of Covid-19, the spokesperson said.
“There is an added complication because some do not have full ID documentation – making it more difficult to get a real estate agent to lease a home.”
Recent arrival ‘Hamid’ and his family said he wanted to settle and find work in Dandenong “close to our community”.
“We are very grateful to have found a safe place in Australia and we want to move into our own home.”
To help, call AMES on 9938 4031
