Homeless residents of Mission Australia’s Roma House in Brisbane are benefiting from free legal health checks thanks to law firm Freehills and the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Incorporated (QPILCH).
More than 20 Freehills lawyers have volunteered to administer the legal check, which screens the residents for debt, housing, crime and family legal issues.
Research has shown that disadvantaged clients are not often aware of their legal issues, nor do they seek legal assistance.
"The new clinic at Roma House provides the opportunity for lawyers to actively engage with the clients," Freehills solicitor and Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic team leader Sam Brown said.
"The legal health check has enabled the clients to address the issues and be free of the court system," she said. "It enables them to get on with their lives and focus on what their future may be once they are no longer homeless," said Roma House manager Rachel Watson.
The legal health check project is funded by Roma House and Streetsmart, a fundraising initiative whereby restaurant patrons can financially support homeless services by adding a small amount to their restaurant bill. Details of participating restaurants can be found at www.streetsmartaustralia.org/findrestaurant.
- Mission Australia's Community Services in Queensland
- Roma House - for further reading click here
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