“Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor…and not turn from your own kin?”
Introducing you to Hassan-Ali
Looking back to 2018: Hassan-Ali has been supported by JRS for several years. Hassan-Ali is a regular visitor to the Day Centre.
Like many of the refugees accompanied by JRS, Hassan-Ali came to the UK believing he would find safety and security. However, this dream of an open welcome is yet to be realised. His asylum claim has been rejected by the Home Office.
The little government support that Hassan-Ali had been receiving stopped once his claim had been refused. Hassan-Ali cannot support himself as it is against the law for him to work. For Hassan-Ali, it feels that he is deliberately forgotten: “The organisations such as the Home Office who are legally bound to look after and care for asylum seekers and refugees, such as me have simply decided to ignore their responsibilities”
“They leave the genuine refugees with no shelter, food and source of income.”
This is the third time we have read Hassan-Ali’s description of refugees being left without life’s basic necessities.
How has it moved you?
How will Hassan-Ali’s experiences shape influence your prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent and make them pleasing to the Lord?
JRS UK runs ‘At Home’, a hosting scheme for our refugee friends who are at most risk of street homelessness. Volunteers open up their homes and spare rooms to refugees for a period of 3 months. It is remarkable to see the transformative effect having somewhere to call home has on refugee friends and the impact offering hospitality has on the hosts, who are themselves changed.
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