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The Clinic believes that people with direct experience of homelessness should be involved in decision-making processes and the development of policy that affects homeless people. If you are homeless or formerly homeless and want to voice an opinion on laws affecting homeless people that you think are unjust or inequitable, please contact the Clinic to chat with the lawyers.
The Clinic has conducted law reform work and public policy advocacy in relation to the following issues:
Begging - We Want Change
This report examines the nature, extent and causes of begging and proposes a range of policy initiatives to respond to begging.
Begging
This submission recommends that begging be decriminalised and that solutions to underlying causes be developed and implemented.
Charter of Rights for Homeless People
This is a response to the proposal of the Victorian Department of Human Services proposal to develop a Charter of Rights and strengthened complaints mechanism for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights
This submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services examines and makes recommendations regarding corporate social responsibility and the human rights responsibilities of business enterprises.
Discrimination on the Ground of Criminal Record
This submission contends that federal and state governments should prohibit discrimination on the ground of 'criminal record' and provide effective remedies to people who experience such discrimination.
"Do Not Go Home - Go Directly to Jail: Homelessness and the Bail Act 1997 (Vic)"
Submission in relation to the Victorian Law Reform Commission's Review of the Bail Act Consultation Paper, January 2006. The Bail Act is designed to assist judicial officers to navigate the fine line between on the one hand, maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety and welfare of the community and on the other, recognising the rights of individuals to liberty and safety and freedom from detention without reasonable cause. Given both the susceptibility of homeless people to interaction with the law and the frequency with which homeless people experience violations of their basic human rights, it is important that the needs of people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage are taken into consideration when amending the Bail Act.
Debt Collection
This submission to the ACCC and ASIC makes recommendations in relaiton to debt collection practices.
Drug Addiction and Discrimination
This submission argues that discrimination on the ground of 'drug addiction' should be prohibited.
Homelessness and Human Rights in Victoria
This submission to the Victorian Human Rights Consultative Committee is based on interviews with 106 homeless people around Melbourne. Recognising the links between homelessness and human rights, the submission proposes the enactment of a Charter of Human Rights in Victoria to contribute to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights for people who are homeless.
Homelessness, Mental Health and Human Rights
This submission to the Senate Select Committee on Mental Health examines the relationship between homelessness and mental health and makes recommendations to promote the human rights and good health of people experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness, Poverty and Discrimination: Improving Public Health by Realising Human Rights
This submission examines and discusses the relationship between homelessness, poverty, discrimination and public health. The submission also examines and discusses the importance of analysing and addressing these issues in a human rights framework, consistently with the obligations of Australia and Victoria under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The submission makes numerous recommendations for reform of Victoria's legislative and institutional frameworks for public health.
Homelessness and the Right to Social Security
These submissions make recommendations in relation to welfare reform for homeless people in the context of the fundamental human right to social security.
Homelessness and Access to Justice
This submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice examines access to procedural and substantive justice for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Homelessness and Residential Tenancy Databases
Recognising the relaitonship between RTD listings and homelessness, this submission makes recommendations in relation to their role, operation and regulation.
Home Detention
This submission examines the impact of 'home detention', a proposed sentencing disposition, on people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Homeless Persons' Court
The Clinic has prepared a report, based on extensive consultations with people experiencing homelessness, which makes 28 recommendations as to how the administration of justice could be improved for people experiencing homelessness in Victoria.
PERIN Fines
These submissions make recommendations to make PERIN fairer for people experiencing financial or social disadvantage. They also propose constructive alternatives to fining homeless people for public space, public order and public transport infringement notice offences.
Police Powers
This submission recommends reform of police practices and procedures so as to respect the rights of the homeless.
Public Transport and Poverty
This submission to the Department of Infrastructure considers the application and impact of proposed Public Transport (Ticketing and Conduct) Regulations 2005 on people experiencing homelessness or poverty.
SAAP IV Evaluation - Homelessness and Human Rights in Australia
This submission contends that many people who are homeless are subject to multiple and intersectional human rights violations. It makes 55 recommendations to ensure that Commonwealth/state responses to homelessness promote and protect human rights.
Social Status Discrimination
This submission recommends that the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) be amended to prohibit discrimination on the ground of social status.
Vagrancy Act
This submission examines the impact of begging, consorting and loitering provisions of the Vagrancy Act 1966 (Vic) on people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Voting Rights - Federal
This submisison makes recommendations to enfranchise the homeless in Federal elections.
Voting Rights - Victoria
This submission makes recommendations to enfranchise the homeless in Victorian elections.
Voting Rights - Information and Enrolment Kit
This kit contains information and forms to empower people experiening homelessness to enrol and vote at federal, state and local government elections.
Women and the Right to Adequate Housing
This submission examines the access of women, particularly marginalised and disadvantaged women, to adequate housing.
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