New report exposes deepening poverty crisis among people seeking asylum

Sydney, 13 October 2025 – A new report from the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) has revealed thousands of people seeking asylum in Australia are being pushed into poverty, homelessness, and ill health due to the quiet erosion of the government’s safety net for people awaiting protection outcomes.

Released to mark Anti-Poverty Week (12–18 October), the report – Failure of Fairness: Fixing the Safety Net for People Seeking Asylum – shows the human cost of the winding back of the Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program, which has been slashed by 93 per cent in the past decade, leaving most people seeking asylum without vital support.

The ASC warns this policy neglect has created a growing humanitarian crisis in the community, with half of the people supported through its casework either experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, while others skip meals and forgo medical treatment simply because of their visa stage.

Elijah Buol, Asylum Seekers Centre CEO, said: “The systemic lack of a safety net for people seeking asylum has created a growing poverty crisis in our communities. On the frontlines, we see the devastating consequences every day – families facing homelessness, women escaping domestic violence left with nowhere to turn, people skipping meals or going without essential medical care.

“This is not just a policy failure – it’s a test of our national character. Australians believe in fairness for all. That principle must extend to people in crisis, regardless of their visa status. The government must act to ensure no one is left behind.”

Felicia Paul, Asylum Seekers Centre Client Support Services Manager, said: “Since the gutting of SRSS, we’ve seen a growing number of people cut off from all support simply because of their visa stage. People and families have been pushed to the brink, facing homelessness, hunger, and preventable health crises. The impact is devastating. It’s not just hardship – it’s the slow breaking of people’s spirits. We are witnessing broken souls.”

The report calls on the Albanese government to deliver on its promises and restore fairness and compassion by:

• Reinstating SRSS access for all people seeking asylum who meet vulnerability criteria, regardless of their visa stage
• Introducing a crisis assessment tool so people in urgent need are not left destitute
• Ensuring all people seeking asylum have work rights and Medicare access while their cases are being processed

ENDS

For further information or to request an interview contact Maddison Bates-Willis on +61 401 244 296 or maddison@asylumseekerscentre.org.au