Rashida Tlaib's Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights includes uninhibited access to public spaces

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, has introduced legislation to establish a new bill of rights specifically for homeless people.

Last week, she introduced the “Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights” that would force government intervention to end homelessness by providing protections for those living on the streets.

“At a time when the Trump Administration is destabilizing homelessness assistance and the Supreme Court has allowed cities to criminalize homelessness in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, the Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights provides a comprehensive, intersectional analysis of the multitude of issues faced by our unhoused neighbors—particularly their criminalization, discrimination, dehumanization, and mistreatment by law enforcement, private businesses, and housed persons,” a press release on the legislation reads. “This bill describes the fundamental human rights that must be enforced to protect individuals who live without homes.”

“Having access to a safe place to live is a human right. Every year, Congress passes another record-breaking military budget, and President Trump just requested a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget this year. Experts say it would cost a fraction of this to end homelessness in our country,” Tlaib said of her bill. “Congress has the power and the resources, but our elected official’s priorities are shamefully misplaced. I’m proud to re-introduce the Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights, legislation that commits the federal government to addressing the root of our nation’s housing crisis once and for all.”

The rights would include “the right to decent, affordable, and accessible housing, livable wages, and universal healthcare,” as well as “the right for persons reentering the community from the criminal justice system to access public housing, voucher programs, rental assistance programs, employment, higher education grants, scholarships, and Federal student loans without discrimination on the basis of their criminal record.” The homeless would also receive “the rights, privileges, or access of an individual to public services, parks, sidewalks, transporation, buildings, or facilities,” and “uninhibited access to public parks, transportation, facilities, sidewalks, buildings, and restrooms.”

Other rights listed:

The right to access safe and clean restroom facilities, safe and clean drinking water, public handwashing facilities, and public electricity sources
The right to access 24-hour and disaster emergency shelters, transitional housing, social services, public housing, and voucher programs
The right not to be subject to penalties for standing, walking, rested or sleeping in a public place or vehicle in a nonobstructive manner, including relying on tents, sleeping bags, additional clothing or other supplies intended to make sleep comfortable and possible
The right to pray, meditate, or practice religion in public spaces without being subject to criminal or civil sanctions, harassment or arrest
The right to solicit donations in public spaces
The right to engage in lawful self-employment, including the right to seek self-employment in junk removal and recycling that require the collection, possession, redemption, and storage of goods for reuse and recycling
The right ot not face discrimination while seeking employment or public assistance due to a lack of permanent mailing address, or the use of a mailing address from a shelter, library, or social service provider
The right to internet access and technology that will enable accessing the internet
The right to obtain copies of identification documents, including Social Security cards, without difficulty or discrimination based on housing status
The right to vote, register to vote, and receive documentation necessary to prove identity for voting
The right to receive emergency and non-emergency medical care
The right for unhoused children to access high-quality education
The right to confidentiality of personal and medical records, documentation, and information
The right to a reasonable expectation of privacy in personal property to the same extent as personal property in a permanent residence
The right to protest, gather in groups, and conduct community outreach

The resolution would be non-binding and would not be legally enforceable, though Tlaib hopes that it would create a blueprint to address homelessness in the event that Democrats are able to take back some power following the midterms.

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Sierra Marlee

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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.

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