The festive season is about to get underway with a series of Christmas Assistance packages aimed at getting the homeless off the streets, and into homes.
Legal aid is available for people in debt who are living on the streets or in other conditions of poverty.
Free legal aid provides legal aid to people in trouble who cannot pay their debts or are in crisis.
Disability aid is for people who have suffered serious disabilities that have restricted their ability to work or to meet basic needs.
There are also free legal aid applications for families of people with mental health conditions.
“We need to get this homeless problem under control,” said Legal Aid NSW’s Executive Director, Rachel Green.
The Homelessness Network NSW and the Salvation Army are also running legal aid packages for people living in emergency accommodation.
And legal aid and disability support are available to help people who cannot afford their rent or who are at risk of eviction.
Some of the first aid packages have been distributed to residents in the CBD and the outer suburbs.
Mr Green said the package of legal aid had already been delivered to about 50 homeless people.
It’s not yet clear how many people will get the Legal Aid packages, but she expects the number to double or triple by the end of the week.
For those on the street and homeless people living on wheels, the legal aid package can be very costly.
People who have paid their debt in full can qualify for a discounted legal aid rate.
But the Legal Advice Scheme says the legal assistance rate for those on fixed incomes can be up to 60 per cent lower than the basic rate.
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