Public Interest Law Clearing House

Homeless Persons' Legal Service (HPLS)

The Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS) is a joint initiative of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) NSW and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). PIAC receives funding from the NSW Public Purpose Fund with the support of the NSW Attorney General to manage and co-ordinate HPLS.

HPLS operates on a partnership model and gives legal advice to individuals at welfare agencies that provide direct services to people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The partner organisations are Allens Arthur Robinson, Baker & McKenzie, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Deacons, DLA Phillips Fox, HWL Ebsworth, Edward Eagar Lodge, Gilbert + Tobin, Henry Davis York, Thomson Playford Cutlers, Legal Aid NSW, Matthew Talbot Hostel, Minter Ellison, Newtown Mission, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Norman Andrews House, Parramatta Mission, Streetlevel Mission, The Station Ltd, Wayside Chapel, Women’s & Girls’ Emergency Centre.

As people experiencing homelessness have many other competing and stressful factors in their lives, legal advice is available to individuals already accessing the welfare service for other immediate needs such as food, shelter and accommodation. Clients do not need an appointment to seek legal advice and clinics operate on a weekly basis, allowing ongoing contact with clients who may not have a fixed address or contact details.

Since it was established in 2004, HPLS has assisted over 3,300 clients and undertaken a range of law reform and policy projects.

HPLS’s current policy and law reform work includes:

a research project to better understand the prevalence and impact of violence on homeless people and to develop improved prevention responses to such violence by key agencies;
a web-based consultation with homeless people on the incidence and nature of discrimination on the basis of prior criminal record; and
ongoing work with the NSW Government on the better exercise of discretion by authorised officers issuing on-the-spot fines.

Further information about HPLS can be found at http://piac.asn.au/legal/hpls.html

Any enquiries about the HPLS program should be directed to
Julie Hourigan Ruse
Coordinator, Homeless Persons' Legal Service
Public Interest Advocacy Centre Ltd
Level 9, 299 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Tel: 02 8898 6511 (direct) or 02 8898 6500 (PIAC)
Fax: 02 8898 6555
DX 643 Sydney

Predatory Lending Project

Poor lending standards and deliberate targeting of vulnerable people by unscrupulous credit providers is a significant issue of public concern. PILCH NSW is coordinating the efforts of its membership to assist affected consumers and lobby for law reform in conjunction with Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW, and Legal Aid.

Cooperative Work & Projects

As a peak body, PILCH NSW identifies emerging and important issues that
affect the broader community. PILCH NSW also works in partnership with
Community Legal Centres, Government Agencies, not-for-profit organisations and
law schools to address emerging issues of unmet legal need.

PILCH NSW members are provided opportunities to work collectively on
these important issues. For example, working in conjunction with several agencies
PILCH NSW coordinates services and projects in which members
have the opportunity to participate such as the Homeless Persons' Legal
Service (see above).

Projects coordinated by PILCH NSW aim to address systemic problems
which require redress for the public good. Members assist with advocacy
and in shaping proposals for law reform.

Stolen Wages of the Stolen Generations

For most of the twentieth century, aboriginal children and young people in NSW came under the control of the Aborigine Protection Board/Aboriginal Welfare Board. Many were part of the Stolen Generations. The Board placed the children and young people in employment and managed wages earned by retaining a portion in a statutory trust fund.

The trust fund faced a number of problems including poor administration, internal fraud and poor record keeping. Furthermore, when the trust fund regime came to an end in 1969, monies outstanding were not distributed.

Following pressure from the community, including by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, the NSW Government established and ex-gratis compensation scheme to enable the payment of monies improperly held in or distributed out of the trust accounts. There are thousands of potential claimants.

PILCH NSW Member law firms and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre are assisting a large number of claimants to bring their cases forward.
PILCH NSW, its Members and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre are working together to make representations to the Government improve the repayment scheme.
PILCH NSW is working in the commuity to raise awareness of the scheme and to encourage claims to be made.