who we are

The Avvocato di strada project, previously carried out among the activities of the “Associazione Amici di Piazza Grande”, was started in 2000 in Bologna to protect the rights of the homeless.  The project recognized the widely acknowledged need to provide legal assistance to these citizens whose fundamental rights were being denied.

Avvocato di strada Onlus, that connects all of our offices, was chartered in 2007 to further a common growth of the activities of each office, to set common operational standards and objectives, to record and monitor the changes in the social environment and to promote the exchange of information among our volunteers.

The offices are operated by volunteer attorneys providing pro bono legal assistance to the homeless on a rotating basis.  Each office is also supported by an administrative staff of volunteers.

Other lawyers, not directly involved in the activities of our offices, are generally available to litigate one or two cases every year on behalf of our organization.  Among our objectives, we aim at exporting our activity in any city with homeless persons.

In 2001, Avvocato di strada was awarded the “Premio Fivol” prize as the best Italian project for the homeless.

In 2007, Avvocato di strada signed a memorandum of understanding with the UNAR, an office of the Italian Ministry of Equal Opportunities whose mission is to eliminate any discriminations based on race or ethnic origins.

In 2008, our organization became a member of fioPSD, an Italian organization that gathers entities and associations devoted to the assistance of the homeless.