From a car to a secure home

The Street Law Coffee Van outreach worker met Steffi during a visit to a program that supports people experiencing homelessness. Over a coffee, Steffi explained she had been served with a Family Violence Intervention Order, which included a condition that she could not return to the home she had previously shared with her ex-partner. As a result, Steffi was now living in her car. Steffi was very upset and felt very vulnerable.

Steffi believed that her ex-partner had moved out of the house they had previously shared. She was understandably frustrated that because of the conditions of the Intervention Order, she could not return to the home which was sitting empty.

The Street Law outreach worker linked Steffi into the PCLC Family Violence team for assistance. Within a couple of working days, one of our family violence lawyers successfully sought a variation to the Intervention Order in Court, meaning Steffi could move back into her house and would no longer have to live in her car. Steffi was most grateful for the PCLC team’s assistance in getting her into her home where she felt safe.

The above highlights the value of the Street Law outreach program and how a quick legal health check conducted over a cup of coffee, followed by a referral to a PCLC lawyer for support, can lead to a significant positive impact in someone’s circumstances.