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The Victorian legal community is coming together to contribute to tackling the housing crisis.
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSB+C) has released a report that examines the most pressing housing problems facing the state from a legal perspective, and asks what the profession can do to help.
Heading up the research is consumer rights advocate and chair of the VLSB+C’s independent consumer panel, Gerard Brody, who ultimately suggested a range of ways to advance housing justice for Victorians.
The primary recommendation is for the VLSB+C to deliver a round of housing justice grants to enable the justice and housing sectors to collaborate in service delivery, advocacy, and innovation in the housing sector.
To support this, the VLSB+C intends to conduct a consultation process with stakeholders from across industries to identify and pursue opportunities to support access to housing.
Brody suggested that the issues under consideration could include housing provider accountability, renter rights, and improving housing support for groups in vulnerable situations.
Board CEO and commissioner, Fiona McLeay, welcomed what she described as a “thought-provoking report”, which she said “clearly demonstrates there is opportunity for the justice sector to play a greater role in improving housing justice for Victorians”.
“Our Grants Program has a proven track record for funding innovative solutions and collaborative endeavours. We are excited to explore this further with the sector now Gerard has completed his report,” McLeay said.
Brody expressed his confidence that the next step in the process – assembling roundtable discussions and conducting collaborative scoping – would position the body to move on initiatives to increase the effectiveness and reach of statewide housing justice initiatives.
“This approach will make sure that the VLSB+C Grants Program responds to immediate needs, and supports long-term, strategic improvements across the justice system,” Brody said.
