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Have Your Say at the Anti-Poverty Stall
Having your say during this year’s Anti-Poverty Week will be made easy as scribes will record your concerns ready to send to relevant decision makers.
On Friday 17th October 2008 between 9am and 12 noon outside the Wesley Church on the Mall in Wollongong, letter writers will note down public concerns about issues of poverty and social hardship. Stamped addressed envelopes will be provided to send those concerns to relevant government representatives.
On this day last year around 150 people sat down to talk, write and dictate their concerns so they could be forwarded to those who shape public policy and make decisions that affect our lives.
There was deep concern about the lack of affordable housing, rising household debts and the need for comprehensive health care including dental treatment. Letter writers noted the need to close the gap between the rich and the poor by putting more money into essential services and infrastructure.
This Anti-Poverty activity is about giving ordinary people in the street a voice. Please come and have your say.
For further information contact Sharon Callaghan on 42754702
The Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) contributed a submission to the Federal Government’s Green Paper ‘Which Way Home: A New Approach to Homelessness’. The submission focused on approaches and strategies that aim to prevent homelessness as reflected in the work of the ILC.
The ILC called for an urgent increase in sufficient affordable housing and amongst other points emphasised the importance of:
- long-term funding arrangements;
- a holistic approach to service provision; and
- community development and engagements through grassroots programs and community events.
Illawarra Legal Centre staff and management welcome the recent announcement by the Commonwealth Attorney General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, that Community Legal Centres will receive a funding boost.
The national Community Legal Centres work to increase access to justice for the most vulnerable members of the community.
The community based legal centres have strong community links and facilitate volunteer programs including out of business hours legal advice.
An additional $10 million for the national Community Legal Centres network will assist this important sector continue their innovative work with those in the community who face the greatest social and financial hardship.
The Illawarra Legal Centre has over 20 years experience providing community based legal services and welcomes new funding for this important work.
Sharon Callaghan
Community Legal Education Worker
Ph 42 754702
The Combined Community Legal Centres Group (CCLCG) Award was granted to local solicitor Linda Wright at the annual Justice Awards presented by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW.