The Community Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, or C-R-S-I, has been launched to by a coalition of refugee groups.
They say it's to supplement, not supplant, government-funded resettlement programs.
There are currently up to 1,000 community-based places available each year under Australia's humanitarian intake.
But a key concern is the high costs involved, which humanitarian groups believe are deterring community groups from sponsoring refugees. More details in this feature prepare by Evan Young and Ninos Emmanuel.
