Comments on the City of Sydney Homelessness Strategy 2007 – 2012

The Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS), a joint initiative of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) commends the City of Sydney on developing a strategy to respond to homelessness in the City of Sydney Local Government Area. In particular, HPLS is concerned to ensure that the strategy focuses on the benefits of co-ordination between the diversity of organisations that provide services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and sees the City of Sydney as particularly well placed to take a lead in such co-ordination. Further, HPLS recommends that the City of Sydney retain sufficient flexibility in its response to homelessness and work with the Federal and NSW Governments to ensure co-ordinated responses on public space regulation, the regulation of boarding houses, and the development of affordable housing stock.’