Homelessness is a major human rights issue for Australia, with an estimated 100,000 people experiencing some level of homelessness at any given time. The Homelessness Legal Rights Project aims to disseminate the growing body of knowledge about the legal and human rights of people facing homelessness and how people might use the law as a tool for change. The Project has a focus on both domestic and international law, particularly international human rights law. Each source of law is seen as a potential resource for people in their advocacy and social justice endeavours.

The Project has a number of components. The Project administers the Homelessness, Human Rights and the Law Email List and publishes the Homelessness, Human Rights and the Law Resource Bulletin. The Resource Bulletin provides updates on programs and services, campaigns and advocacy initiatives, research and publications, case-law and international developments.

In addition, the Project maintains the Homelessness, Human Rights and the Law Resource Page and, within available resources, provides Campaign and Research Support to a range of local, regional and national initiatives.

The Project is a collaborative endeavour. It’s Project Partner is the Public Interest Law Clearing House Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic based in Melbourne, Victoria. In addition, the Project has a broad-based Advisory Group to assist the Management Group for the Project.

Funded by the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and the Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales, with in kind contributions from key supporters, the Project commenced its pilot phase in July 2003.

The Homelessness Legal Rights Project concluded in January 2008.