The Justice and Equity Centre is supporting a growing number of Australians as cost-of-living crisis hits

The housing and cost-of-living crisis is now impacting the daily lives of millions of Australians, particularly our most vulnerable. Australians are feeling the pressure of steep rises in the cost of essentials like fruit, vegetables, bread, dairy, energy and rent. In May 2022, inflation was rising by an annual 5.1%. By the end of that year, it peaked at 7.8%, and the impacts continue to have serious impacts for many.

The Justice and Equity Centre (JEC), formerly known as the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), provides practical assistance to the most vulnerable in the community, including providing legal support that is accessible, non-judgemental and free for those in need. Their clients include people facing homelessness, such as women and children fleeing family and domestic violence, the elderly and those with disabilities.

The JEC team works with people like Bianca (see photo) who, after escaping domestic violence and experiencing homelessness, moved into community housing with her children. She believed she was finally getting the stability her family deserved when she suddenly faced the risk of being evicted and blacklisted as a future tenant. Her community housing provider said she had fallen behind on her rent and had accrued significant debt. Bianca sought legal support from the JEC, where the team discovered that the rental increases and eviction notices she received were inaccurate. The JEC found that Bianca had overpaid and was actually owed money. A JEC solicitor settled Bianca’s case against her landlord, ensuring she was not evicted, blacklisted or left with crippling debt.

JEC casework and advocacy identifies where systems are broken and pursues solutions at both the individual and systemic level. Influencing decision-makers to change laws and policies takes persistence, sometimes years. The JEC looks for opportunities to ensure better policies and outcomes for people like Bianca and has a decades-long track record of improving systems for those in need.

Hear Bianca tell her story and for more information about the JEC dedicated Women's Service programme and how to donate to support their work, see their donor information page or contact Philanthropy Officer, Stephenie Cahalan, at scahalan@jec.org.au.