The Safe Steps to Legal Rights project by Northern Community Legal Centre (NCLC), funded by the Mercy Foundation, successfully piloted an integrated legal support model for women in family violence crisis accommodation in North Melbourne. Working with Safe Steps and The Salvation Army, the project aimed to reduce homelessness by addressing the legal and financial issues driving housing instability.
Over twelve months, NCLC assisted 183 women, far exceeding its original target of 50. Legal support included 229 advice sessions, 113 casework files, and 4 duty lawyer services, with 82% of clients facing multiple legal issues. Outcomes included improved safety through Family Violence Intervention Orders, enhanced financial security via debt relief and victims’ compensation, and increased housing stability through tenancy advocacy.
Training for crisis accommodation staff improved their capacity to identify legal needs and use the new Financial Security Assessment Tool, leading to more timely and effective referrals. The project also revealed systemic barriers, such as short crisis stays and limited resources, prompting a trauma-informed, one-on-one approach.
The pilot demonstrated that embedding legal services within crisis accommodation significantly enhances financial and housing stability for victim-survivors. NCLC continues to seek sustainable funding to expand this proven model and prevent homelessness among women and children.
