Homelessness

Media and commentary on our work protecting the rights of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and helping people avoid or exit homelessness.

  • Civil society organisations call for a Christmas pause on COVID fine collection to reduce hardship in communities already doing it tough

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    A coalition of legal and civil society organisations have called for a four month pause on COVID fine enforcement action, as new figures reveal communities with high numbers of people facing disadvantage have been hit with the most fines, and real doubts about whether many have been issued correctly and fairly.   Statistics obtained by Redfern Legal Centre reveal that almost 50,000 COVID-19 fines were issued for breaches of Public Health Orders, with more…

  • Disability pension not enough to buy food

    From 7News.com.au: Thomas Chailloux from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre said people on the disability pension were at risk of homelessness because their complex and fluctuating needs cannot be addressed on the current rate. Insecure housing and not having enough money for rent would then cause a spiral when people stop buying medication and food…

  • Public forum on policing public space

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    Thank you to everyone who attended PIAC’s online forum on 18 May and heard from policy, legal and consumer experts, as we formally launched a new joint report with Homelessness NSW. ‘Policing Public Space: The experiences of people sleeping rough,’ highlights how negative interactions with police can stop people who are experiencing homelessness from enjoying…

  • Forum: Policing Public Space

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    Join policy, legal and consumer experts for an important lunchtime forum about the policing of homelessness in public space, as we launch a new joint report that details the experiences of people sleeping rough in Sydney. The over-policing of homelessness in public spaces has been raised by advocates and consumers alike as a significant contributor…

  • Policing Public Space: The experiences of people sleeping rough

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    Years of research has shown that people sleeping rough tend to be over-policed, particularly when they use and enjoy public places. Policies such as The Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places emphasise their rights, but in practice, many feel they are too-often the subject of unfair or unwarranted police attention.     Our new report, co-authored with Homelessness NSW, records the experiences…

  • Vale AJ, long-time advocate for people experiencing homelessness

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    We are very sad to announce the passing of AJ, founding member of PIAC’s consumer advisory committee on homelessness, StreetCare. AJ was a tenacious and committed champion for people experiencing homelessness. Through his involvement with StreetCare, he effectively represented their views to the highest levels of government. StreetCare began in 2008 as a grass roots…

  • Improving accountability around the treatment of homeless people in public

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    Appearing before a Parliamentary committee this month, PIAC’s Homeless Persons Legal Service and consumer StreetCare committee have called for amendments to the Protocol for Homeless People in Public Spaces (the Protocol) to ensure that it effectively upholds the principles it seeks to promote and that signatories are accountable. The Protocol was introduced by the NSW…

  • Could COVID-19 be a catalyst for positive change?

    The NSW Government has taken unprecedented action to address rough sleeping during the COVID-19 crisis. In March, governments responded to the public health risk posed by rough sleepers by swiftly placing hundreds of people in temporary accommodation. The response continues to develop as restrictions begin to ease. Like other services working in homelessness, we say…

  • Public forum today: Sector leaders call for urgent measures to end homelessness post COVID-19

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    Ahead of a lunchtime Zoom forum today, leaders in Sydney’s homelessness sector are calling for urgent action to end homelessness in the wake of the COVID19 crisis. This would include a plan to house rough sleepers long term including greater investment in new social housing and the upgrading of existing stock, which could create over…

  • Concerns re policing public health orders

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    The unprecedented public health orders that have been put place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to bear particularly harshly on people experiencing homelessness, especially those sleeping rough. We’ve been in contact with the NSW Attorney General and other relevant ministers, to express our concerns about aspects of the new laws. In…

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