Street Lawyers Working Group
The Street Lawyers Working Group brings together lawyers and legal practitioners who work directly with people experiencing homelessness or housing exclusion.
Street lawyers do not work only behind a desk. They work on the ground, alongside social workers and outreach teams, supporting people in their daily struggles to access basic rights. Their work includes providing legal advice, representing clients before courts and public authorities, and advocating for systemic change.
The Working Group is a space to share experiences, learn from each other, and make visible the legal realities faced by people living without stable housing.
What do street lawyers actually do?
Street lawyers support people in very concrete, everyday situations.
Below are some typical examples of their work.
Applying for social housing
A person experiencing homelessness wants to apply for social housing but has already been told they are not eligible, or their application was refused without clear explanation.
A street lawyer:
- explains the legal rules that determine who is entitled to apply
- checks whether the refusal is lawful
- helps complete the application in a way that reflects the person’s legal situation
- challenges incorrect decisions or missing information from the local council
- accompanies the person when legal arguments need to be made in person
For someone facing homelessness, this legal support can mean the difference between being wrongly excluded and having their rights recognised.
Violence, assaults, and criminalisation
A person experiencing homelessness is assaulted in the street or sanctioned for sleeping rough, begging, or being in a public space.
They may not report the incident, out of fear, lack of trust, or previous negative experiences with authorities.
A street lawyer:
- explains the person’s rights as a victim or as a defendant
- helps them decide whether and how to report the incident
- accompanies them to the police or administrative authorities
- challenges disproportionate fines or sanctions
- ensures that homelessness does not result in unequal treatment before the law
In these situations, legal support is essential to protect dignity, safety, and equal access to justice.
Access to healthcare
A person living on the street needs medical care but is turned away from a hospital because they have no address, no documents, or no health insurance.
A street lawyer:
- explains the person’s rights in simple terms
- accompanies them to the hospital
- helps communicate with medical staff
- ensures that access to healthcare is not denied because of homelessness
Sometimes, just being there makes the difference.
Registration of address (local registration)
Without a registered address, many people cannot:
- access social benefits
- register with a doctor
- open a bank account
- regularise their situation
A street lawyer may:
- accompany a person to the local administration
- explain why registration is legally possible even without stable housing
- challenge refusals or delays
- help the person navigate complex administrative procedures
This step is often small on paper, but life-changing in practice.
Residence status and migration papers
Many people experiencing homelessness are migrants whose legal situation is unclear or unstable.
A street lawyer may:
- explain what options exist to regularise their situation
- help gather documents
- accompany them to appointments with authorities
- clarify deadlines, procedures, and rights
For people facing language barriers or fear of institutions, this support is essential.
Why a Working Group?
Street lawyers across Europe face similar situations, even if laws differ.
The Working Group exists to:
- exchange practical experiences
- discuss common challenges
- identify legal and structural obstacles
- strengthen rights-based approaches to homelessness and housing exclusion
It connects practice on the street with broader advocacy and policy work.
Who is the Working Group for?
The Street Lawyers Working Group is open to:
- street lawyers and legal practitioners
- NGOs providing legal support
- legal clinics and outreach-based legal services
- organisations working on housing rights and homelessness
Coordination and Members
The Working Group is coordinated within the framework of FEANTSA, as part of its work on housing rights and homelessness within the Housing Rights Watch network.
Members:
- Stenbroens Jurister Denmark (Tobias Dorph)
- Streetlawyer Association (Noémi Fanni Molnár)
- Fundació Arrels (Guillem Fernandez)
- Avvocato di Strada (Pier Francesco Bresciani and Elena Lenzi)