StreetCare

StreetCare is a voice for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. 

Since 2009, StreetCare has empowered people with lived experiences of homelessness to be advocates for law and policy reform that improves lives. Members drive change using public forums including the media, and through direct advocacy to decision-makers.

StreetCare members are supported to emphasise the human cost of homelessness, advocate for a safe home as a human right, and reduce stigma for those experiencing homelessness or living in social housing. 

The group plays a vital role advising government agencies, academics, and housing and homelessness organisations. StreetCare members have briefed politicians from all sides of politics and regularly participate in forums including the End Street Sleeping Collaboration.

StreetCare guides the broader advocacy work of our Homeless Persons’ Legal Service. It provides valuable insights into barriers preventing people from having a safe and secure home. It also offers practical solutions for empowering people living in social housing, on the street or in insecure accommodation to live with dignity and security. 

StreetCare successes

StreetCare has been instrumental in bringing about positive change on significant matters of government policy. Amongst its achievements, StreetCare has:

• exposed unfair over-policing of people who are homeless or living in public housing within ‘Alcohol-Free Zones’ in Sydney, leading to the City of Sydney reducing the number of zones;
• gained improvements to NSW Government Temporary Accommodation, resulting in more people in crisis having access, for longer periods;
• successfully advocated for and helped develop trauma-informed practice training for Community Legal Centre lawyers and Homes NSW Access and Demand staff;
• supporting government to deliver a coordinated, effective response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic for rough-sleepers;
• protected the rights of people sleeping rough through collaborative work with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to review the Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places and district-based Homelessness strategies; and
• had its work acknowledged with two Community Recognition Statements in the NSW Parliament and regular invitations to meet with Ministers, MPs, Mayors and Councillors.

Hear from StreetCare

StreetCare members are available to present at meetings and provide advice. 

If you or your organisation would like to know more about StreetCare or hear from StreetCare members, please email Charmaine Jones at [email protected] or call 02 8898 6530.