Homeless Court Melbourne

There is a huge ground swell here in Melbourne at the moment around the concept of a homeless court. The driving force is the Homeless person’s legal clinic that is very proactive, in tandem with consumer participation around the model and guiding principles to get this baby of the ground. The landscape of the welfare system has changed here in Melbourne over the past few years, its got pretty tight fisted. Once upon a time Met Cards would freely available to the homeless punter in order for them to get around to access services that they require. Fare evasion is an automatic fine of 150 bucks. I have seen homeless people escorted (dragged Of trams) surrounded by a least six inspectors “the norm here” harassed denied there basic humin rights, humiliated, shamed, belittled, mocked. I have often intervened in order too make the peace and have been more then willing to put my hand in my pocket to pay for a ticket, and then told to fuck off, its got nothing to do with you “piss poor effort Conex” and a reflection of a savage money hungry system that they provide lift your game, give them a break. Homelessness is a full time occupation for a lot of people. The stress that we experience on a daily basis in order to survive is enough; we don’t need any more grief. Homeless court I say yes.

Yeh that sounds like a good move and could really work, will be interesting to see how it goes if it does in fact go ahead. Here in WA we have drug court and in the regional country areas we have various court programs specifically for Aboriginal offenders, to try and reduce the overepresentation of aboriginals in custody as well as sobering up shelters for drunken citizens to have a place to dry out instead of being locked up this was after recommendations into aboriginal deaths in custody.
More specific programs need to be introduced to the increase, knowedge, and understanding on particuliar circumstances that affect a minority group within the community.

The Homeless person's court diversion program is in it's infancy here in Brisbane. It is aimed at diverting homeless people charged with public space offences away from sentancing and fines and into support services to help them including housing and rehab etc.

At present it is very much a watch this space project which is ironing out it's teething problems. There is also a pilot special circumstances court program where people with impaired decision making ability are supported through the court process. This pilot is to support people with mental health issues etc when charged with offences.

The Homeless Person's Legal Clinic (HPLC) is involved in both projects and they both demonstrate positive law reform for marginalised groups.

The involvement of the HPLC demonstrates that not only does it provide support and free legal services but is active in law reform affecting the homeless and other marginalised people. This is why continuing funding for the HPLC is so crucial. Luckily the Brisbane HPLC has been funded to June 2007 to continue it's good work.

The homeless persons legal clinic here in Melbourne have worked miracles for the homeless punter. They hammer away at services that offer “piss poor” so called support around homelessness. The injustice of it all, into human rights and are well aware of the ever expanding homeless industry (huge cash cow) so top heavy that are to busy justifying their fuck ups and this distracts them from the real issues. The state Government and indeed the federal understand the solution but do not understand the problem. I do talk to services about their policy and what they are offering to clients (social caring model or social change) they haven’t got a clue. Reading between the lines, keep the average punter on the treadmill recycle them, the revolving door mentality totally unaware of the trauma that they are causing.