Homelessness Advocacy Service (HAS)
Get homelessness or social housing service support
If you have a problem with a homelessness assistance or social housing service—such as a transitional, housing manager, support service, or rooming house—our Homelessness Advocacy Service (HAS) can help.
Contact HAS
To access support, please contact:
Angela Kyriakopoulos / HAS Advocate
angela@chp.org.au
1800 066 256 / 8415 6213
What is HAS?
Our Homelessness Advocacy Service (HAS) is the primary advice service for people seeking or receiving assistance from any Victorian community-managed homelessness assistance or social housing service.
The goal of HAS is to achieve mutually beneficial resolutions for consumers and service providers.
Some examples of problems you might want help with include:
your rights not being respected
breach of privacy and confidentiality
not understanding the information you have been given
being unsure of the best way to resolve an issue
not receiving the service you believe you have a right to
discrimination
not being treated with dignity and respect
being excluded from a service
feeling unsafe in accommodation.
How can we help?
Every request for support is different, and everyone has different needs, so support varies from case-to-case.
HAS will be guided by you to advocate on your behalf, provide you with accurate information, and advise you about your rights. The focus is always on trying to resolve the problem.
As a guide to what you can expect from HAS, responses might include:
clarifying the situation and trying to address any confusion or misunderstanding
contacting relevant services, discussing the problem and how best to resolve it
providing support to negotiate complaint processes
providing support at a meeting with a service
referring to a range of services (such as material aid, support, and external complaint bodies)
writing support letters
mediation
problem solving.
Your rights
HAS recognises everyone’s right to live with dignity. Support provided by HAS is based on this approach and is underpinned by the principles, rights, and responsibilities outlined in the Consumer Charter for Homelessness Assistance and the Homelessness Assistance Service Standards.
When seeking support from HAS, you have certain rights and responsibilities. These are set out in the HAS Consumer Charter of Rights and Responsibilities as a clear commitment from Council to Homeless Persons.
Find more information about HAS and your privacy with our frequently asked questions.
If you are not satisfied with the service provided to you by HAS, you can make a complaint.
HAS resources
Find more information about HAS by downloading the resources below.
Help us to spread the word about HAS within your service by printing and displaying the resources, or distributing to people you work with.
Would you like to make a complaint about CHP?
Learn how to make a complaint about a CHP service or interaction. This guidance should be read alongside the CHP complaints procedure.