Empire Justice Center’s Post

We can do better for kids and community safety. We must do better. In NSW, kids as young as 10 can be arrested. The earlier children come into contact with the system the more likely it is that they have ongoing contact with the system. This interaction is traumatic and fails to create safer communities. Evidence shows that our current approach harms children and negatively impacts families and communities. Even worse, what we are doing now is ineffective for both our children and community safety. Every child deserves to flourish and thrive. Fams stands with over 100 organisations supporting the Raise the Age NSW campaign. 🔗 Learn more about Raise The Age NSW: https://ow.ly/IvYl50ToPpr #safechildren #strongfamilies #supportivecommunities

Absolutely for the reason below and so many more we need to #raisetheage. CTA share and join the campaign below

“We do a budget to find out what’s affordable. Then find out more about the type of property they want; we discuss the market rent (they are all shocked by the cost of renting in Sydney), how to look for a property (we look at Domain and similar apps), what to expect when going to an inspection, what to check for, what’s required when applying for a property, and how to apply. For participants, a major requirement is easy access to public transport because most don’t drive. Other than that it depends on the individual – someone prefers a one-bedroom over a studio, one has to have gas, one wants good water pressure in the shower. One participant was concerned about security, she closely examined the main door, the locks and everything. We encourage them to go and inspect in person. One participant asked, ‘Can I just do a video call or can you go on my behalf?’ We explained pictures can be deceiving, we can support you during the inspection but you have to go there, you will be the one living there! By the time survivors leave the program they are more confident, they have more power, they feel like their own person, and it builds their independent living skills as well. Toward the end they have fair knowledge of their rights as a tenant. I do holistic casework with them, we are focused on every area that can help them be more independent – legal, employment, education, health, social relationships etc. During our final meeting I might ask, ‘If your landlord comes knocking what will you do?’ I test their knowledge and understanding to make sure they are prepared and can advocate for themselves.” 8 February is the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. In 2020 we joined the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery with our launch of the Modern Slavery Transitional Housing Program in collaboration with The Salvation Army Australia. The Foundation provides funding to program participants to set up their new homes and cover a portion of their rent for six to 12 months, and to the Salvos to employ dedicated caseworker Brinda Moktan – who works one-on-one with survivors to help them secure a rental, educate them on their rights and responsibilities as a tenant, ensure their general health and wellbeing, and guide them toward independence. #RaiseTheRoof #ModernSlavery #EndHumanTrafficking #HumanTrafficking #HumanTraffickingAwareness

🏠Thousands of housing advocates across the country are fighting to uphold housing as a #HumanRight in their communities—but the fight can often feel isolated. That’s why in 2022, we brought over 100 of these advocates together to support each other by sharing successes and learnings from their own communities. ➡️For the first time ever, we’re sharing some of these stories with you today: https://loom.ly/30UkOCU #Right2Housing #Right2HousingStories

The Impact of Housing Disrepair on Children's Health and Education No family should have to endure poor living conditions. Landlords are responsible for maintaining safe and healthy homes, not low-income families. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-4mmGxP For more information and support on housing disrepair issues, contact Justice4Tenants at FREE 0800 887 0700, email: claims@justice4tenants.uk, or visit justice4tenants.uk #Justice4Tenants #HousingDisrepair #TenantRights #HealthyHomes #SupportForFamilies #EndHousingInjustice

For National Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on August 21st, let's explore solutions to provide safe and affordable housing for seniors: 1. Expand Affordable Housing: Develop age-friendly housing units tailored for seniors. 2. Promote Home Sharing: Encourage seniors to share homes for companionship and reduced living costs. 3. Policy Advocacy: Support rent control and subsidies to protect seniors from rent hikes. 4. Community Solutions: Foster local cooperatives and organizations to offer secure housing options. Ensuring affordable housing for the elderly is not just a necessity but a societal responsibility. Let's take collective action to make a difference. #HousingCrisis #SeniorLiving #AffordableHousing

📢 Emergency Budget Rally This Thursday! 📢 June 6th, 11 am 455 Golden Gate, San Francisco California faces a major budget deficit, and the Governor is proposing severe cuts to essential services. These cuts will affect people with disabilities, older adults, immigrants, and working-class communities. The proposed cuts include: * Eliminating IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) for undocumented Californians * Ending IHSS’s back-up provider program * Deep cuts to food programs, housing, and homelessness programs Speak Up for Our Communities! Join us and other organizations supporting disability rights, aging, immigrant, worker, and labor groups. We must make it clear that we will not accept these budget cuts. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #OurHomesNotNursingHomes #SupportsNotSlashes #DontCutCommunities

File on 4 Ghost Houses: Why are there [a lot] more empty homes than homeless families? Really good listen... Great on: The 2nd homes that aren't The 136,000 homes of the dead in limbo that don't pay Council Tax Retrofit & training bonuses of bringing empties into use ..and how this talks to the wider challenge of our old and poorly insulated housing (and the poor families we choose to house in them) And the awful results of not doing it... (includes some key issues based on our research): https://lnkd.in/emuR7AMC

#WhoDefinesSurvival: Intimate Partner Violence survivors can have multiple intersecting needs that impact what safety and stability looks like for them. For example, a survivor’s immigration status and their access to work authorization may impact their comfort in engaging with systems, ability to be independent, and priorities. A survivor who has a child with special needs receiving services and community support for childcare, may decide that fleeing to a shelter in another borough doesn’t work for them. Survivor-centered justice means survivors must be able to define what reclaiming their lives looks like for them, based on their unique circumstances and needs. Our role is to provide and expand the options available to them, so they can choose what is right for them. We need to trust survivors about what will make them safe, what will bring them support, and what justice looks like for them. #domesticviolenceawarenessmonth #domesticviolence #intimatepartnerviolence #survivorcentered #weareNYLAG

For #HomelessnessWeek, here’s an update from Alison Mackey of our Inner Sydney Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service. Recent reforms to end no-grounds evictions should reduce the number of people being evicted into homelessness across the state. However, we need more investment in new public and social housing, as well as better maintenance of existing properties. We regularly hear from people who choose to couch surf or sleep rough rather than endure living in poorly maintained properties. We urge the NSW government to advance proposed reforms and expand protections for people living in shared accommodations, such as boarding houses. This should include new provisions to address fire safety and overcrowding.