By Professor Nigel Balmer, Research Director
When the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner were planning their Housing Justice grant round, the grants team asked if I had any thoughts on the focus. In response I did a little presentation and made this short paper. They draw on some of my research and that of others to provide my perspective on housing problems, why they matter, and why a themed housing round makes so much sense.
The paper is a short read, but just in case you are particularly time poor, it tells you that our housing situation is part of the picture of who we are, and changes in our housing situation are life events. Change can be benign, but not always, and both your housing situation and changes to it relates to your susceptibility to everyday legal problems.
Housing problems are commonly experienced, and when they are, have the potential to escalate into bigger issues or disputes. They rarely occur in isolation and can be among the most challenging episodes people face in their lives. They relate to disadvantage, but it is more than just a correlation – they can be both the cause and the consequence. And their impact can extend far beyond the justiciable to affect health, wealth and relationships.
They are central to our understanding of legal needs, with programs designed to better address housing issues central to a response that more effectively mirrors people’s experience. So that is why I was so enthusiastic about the VLSB+C’s 2024 themed Housing Justice grant round. You can read about the grant recipients here. I am looking forward to seeing these projects come to fruition, and as a good empiricist, be evaluated, so we can continue to refine our understanding of how best to meet needs and support those facing housing problems.
And it’s not just me. For more on the links between legal needs and housing insecurity, check out this recent webinar between my former Victoria Law Foundation colleagues Lynne Haultain and (access to justice oracle) Dr Hugh McDonald, with Hannah Grey of Tenants Victoria.
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