The Homelessness Legal Rights Project provides support within available to resources to campaign and research initiatives that promote the human rights of people facing homelessness. Examples include:
Homelessness Peoples Association
The Homeless People's Association is a grass-roots community group formed by people who have experienced homelessness, based in Melbourne, Australia. You are encouraged to find out more about this important organisation. In 2003, the Homelessness Legal Rights Project provided endorsement for the fund-raising efforts of the HPA .
Longgrass Association Annual ‘Freedom to Sleep' and CD Launch
'Longgrass people are mainly Aboriginal family groups living in bush areas throughout the Darwin region. There can be up to 1000 people, including old people, young adults and children camping out on any given night in the Darwin area. Many have disabilities and health problems, alcohol/drug problems and mental health problems underpinned by long term poverty.
Longgrass Association is an informal network of Longgrass people, their families and friends that gives a voice to the hundreds of voiceless individuals and family groups that live in the Longgrass either by choice or by circumstance. The Association promotes the human rights of Longgrass people to be treated with the same dignity and respect as other community members. This includes the right to access to water, adequate and appropriate shelter and the inalienable right to practice cultural obligations and ways of living.' (Extract from Longrass LIVE CD)
‘Freedom to Sleep' is an annual event that draws attention to the harassment, criminalisation of the lifestyle, racism and human rights abuses of Longrass people.
The Longgrass Association has launched the Longgrass LIVE CD as an awareness-raising and funding-raising initiative. Inspired by the 2002 Freedom to Sleep concert, the CD is a compilation of 16 original songs about living in the Longgrass from mostly Longgrass people.
You can purchase copies of Longgrass LIVE by contacting Stella Simmering or the Director of the Homelessness Legal Rights Project. Price: $25 including postage.
The Director of the Homelessness Legal Rights Project has published several articles dealing with the impact of the Darwin City Council By-Laws on Longgrass people who live in public space in the Darwin area. On 3 October 2003, the Director presented to the Northern Territory Social Policy Forum in Darwin on “Living in Public Space and Human Rights.' On 7 November 2003, the Director addressed the Longgrass Freedom to Sleep Protest Concert held in Darwin by the Longgrass Association.
New South Wales Boarders and Lodgers Action Group (BLAG) Campaign
The Homelessness Legal Rights Project supports the New South Wales Boarders and Lodgers Campaign.
The New South Wales Boarders and Lodgers Action Group (BLAG) is conducting a campaign for legislative reform to provide protection for people who live in boarding and lodging situations. Currently boarders and lodgers do not have statutory legal rights. The lack of legal protection makes boarders and lodgers vulnerable to homelessness.
The BLAG is a coalition of concerned workers from a number of community and church groups, tenancy services, community legal centres and local government councils, committed to social justice and the human right to housing.
Contact the Boarders and Lodgers Action Group for details:
Indi Evans: 9516 4755
Vanessa Whittington: 8267 4397
In November 2003, the Homelessness Legal Rights Project contributed to the preparation of a Joint Submission to the National Supported Accommodation Assistance Program IV Evaluation.
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and Drug Use Campaign
The Federal Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. If passed, the amendment would make it lawful to discriminate against people who have a drug addiction in areas such as housing and employment. Discrimination would be lawful regardless of whether the person's addiction had any impact on a person's ability to comply with their tenancy obligations or to carry out the job. If passed, the Bill could have serious implications for people with a drug addition who are currently homeless.
The Senate has referred the Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee for Inquiry and report by 25 March 2004. Submissions to the Inquiry were due by 9 February 2004. The Homelessness Legal Rights Project has endorsed the PILCH Homeless Persons Legal Clinic's Submission.
The homepage for the Senate Inquiry.
For background materials, go to: http://www.disabilitydiscrimination.info/pages/1/index.htm : a national webpage set up on this issue which brings together information and campaign materials;
See also PILCH Homeless Persons Legal Clinic. The Clinic is coordinating a campaign against the Bill in conjunction with the Disability Discrimination Legal Service in Victoria. Click on 'Drug Addition and Disability Discrimination' in the 'What's New' Section.
Research Support
The Homelessness Legal Rights Project provides advice and support to research initiatives and organisations such as the Legal Needs of Homeless People Research Project of the Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre/Public Interest Law Clearing House Homeless Project in Sydney and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Please contact the Director if you would like to discuss possibilities for support and collaboration.