Complex social and economic factors increase the likelihood of women being pushed into homelessness or insecure housing.
Our HPLS Women’s Service responds to the specific challenges women face by providing specialised legal help and associated support.
If you need legal help, find out who we can help and how to apply for help.
Our Women’s Service provides free legal advice and access to a specialist support worker who works collaboratively with our solicitors. It also connects women with other support services, including crisis accommodation and specialist domestic and family violence supports.
We hold outreach clinics at women-only spaces with a women-only team of lawyers, so women who are already experiencing vulnerability can access legal help in a space where they feel safe.
Many women experiencing homelessness have experienced family or domestic violence, or sexual assault. WHPS solicitors provide a trauma-informed service focused on keeping women safe and preventing homelessness through early-intervention wherever possible. This can involve empowering women to understand their rights as tenants, supporting them to apply for protection orders or referring them to family law support.
Women often have lower incomes and less savings than men, so are more likely to get into financial difficulty that causes or entrenches homelessness or housing insecurity. We help women with financial issues, including by dealing with oppressive fines or debts, or supporting them to apply for victims of crime compensation.
Our work to support women is guided by a diverse group of women in our lived experience advisory group, StreetCare.
Our Women’s Service client work informs our advocacy for law and policy change to address the causes of homelessness and housing insecurity.
Sarah*, a survivor of domestic violence, asked for help from our Women’s Service after her ex-partner breached his ADVO and assaulted her, damaged her property and stole her car, creating debts for Sarah. We gave Sarah legal advice and helped gather evidence for the Victims Support Scheme, then made an application and submissions on her behalf.
Sarah received nearly $5000 and 22 hours of counselling from the successful application. This helped her escape the violence, build her self-confidence and take important steps to protect her safety.
* Name has been changed to protect our client’s identity.
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