Case 79: Teenage sisters separated from family avoid homelessness

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Two teenage sisters were studying full time and living in public housing with their parents. The Office of Housing granted the parents a temporary absence to return to Lebanon. They were unable to come back to Australia due to the father’s ill health. The sisters, who had remained in Victoria, were unable to continue with rent payments and were issued with a notice to vacate for rental arrears. The Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic was unable to negotiate a suitable agreement with the Office of Housing and sought an order from the tribunal. The clinic helped the sisters to argue that their human rights had not been properly considered as there were less restrictive means to achieve the Office of Housing’s purpose. An agreement was reached and the sisters were able to avoid eviction.

Source: Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic, Submission to the Review of the Victorian Charter, 2011