Dear CRIBS family,

At CRIBS we hear the stories of our families. We set aside our anger about their suffering to focus on their strength and their survival. But now we have some awful news. It will mean an enormous change for them and for all of us who support them.

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT is ending all financial support for refugees not in Government accommodation from July.

Homelessness, destitution and exploitation will increase enormously. It will expose many to even more police and fascist violence. And for our families too. Imagine being pregnant, or the parent of a new-born baby, and destitute. CRIBS already supports some families without cash cards. This is expensive work. To continue in these conditions will cost is so much more. Like all charities we have had a very tough year with the pandemic. Cancelled fundraising events have meant less money coming in, but Covid tests and safety measures result in increased expenditure.

At present our amazing donors and volunteer team are providing housing and support to 17 families:

- Nine have NO cashcards and receive no state support. CRIBS provides a monthly stipend to cover family living expenses.

- Eight families have their cash card. CRIBS does not need to contribute toward their family living expenses.

- We are currently paying £1,736 per month in family living expenses.

- In July the 8 families will lose their cash card income and we will need to find an additional £1,215 per month.

- This is an annual increase of 67.5% as a very minimum (from £20,834 to £34,897).

- In reality with other emergency payments such as medicines and nappies it will be more than that. We currently cover these for non-cashcard families.

Another huge impact will be that it will become even more difficult to move families away from CRIBS accommodation and into independent living once their baby reaches 12 months old. Currently, families with cashcards are able to save towards a deposit and rent. Families without a cashcard rely on our Moving On Grant to cover this. Even with the Moving On Grant, we recognise that with no income it is impossible to cover rents and our families may end up living on the streets and in parks.

We are already planning the following measures:

- Advising families with cashcards to save for when the cashcard ceases.

- Reassuring them that we will all do our very best to support them.

- Taking steps to source food supplies and community kitchens that our families can access.

- Decided not to rent any further accommodation and to stop any expansion plans to address the overwhelming demand for housing from pregnant women and those with new-borns who are forced to live in precarious and dangerous situations.

The combination of Covid and the looming cut to cashcard support means our current income is no longer enough to support the families we have committed to care for. We are therefore asking for your help to allow us to continue to support the families already housed, including two babies born in the last week.

Family living expenses are a quarter of our annual costs.

Because of this impending catastrophe, our MayDay Emergency Appeal will be spent on these essential living expenses without which our families cannot but food, toiletries or essential baby supplies such as nappies.

Our campaign target is £35,000 - one year of family living expenses for 17 CRIBS families.

How you can help:

- Give a one-off donation: every pound matters.

- Commit to a monthly donation this helps us immensely as it allows us to undertake a degree of forward planning.

- Dont forget to Gift Aid donations if you can.

- Create your own mini campaign and set a target to raise - the average cost of family living expenses is £200 per family per month or £2,400 per year.

- Share our campaign with your friends and family and tell them why the work that we do at CRIBS matters to you and of course to our 17 families in Athens.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.