Homeless rights: a call for change

ABSTRACT

Human rights, while broad in their universal definition, are distinctly identifiable when the absence of such rights threatens an individual’s quality of life or likelihood of survival. Social groups in the United States have historically organized and advocated for voting, property, social and political rights to achieve equality for marginalized populations. However, despite the long-standing history of homelessness in the United States, homeless populations are new to social and political conversations surrounding rights that promote their quality of life and increase their likelihood of sustained housing. Laws and norms referring to the homeless are generally restrictive and revolve around public ordinances, policing, and criminalization. Underlying social barriers such as stigmatization, the right to a permanent address, public space and personal property are also chronic barriers that perpetuate the condition of homelessness. This article compiles data and literature that outline the implications of these barriers and argues for a universal Homeless Bill of Rights specific to the condition of homelessness, including address rights, property rights, and decriminalization.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• address rights
• property rights
• decriminalization
• Homeless Bill of Rights

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Eisenmann

Amanda Eisenmann graduated summa cum laude with her bachelor’s in social work from Avila University and is currently completing her master’s in social work at St. Louis University. Amanda has worked at a community level with chronically homeless populations for over a decade. She currently works as the co-founder and outreach coordinator of a non-profit serving homeless populations. She also practices as a social worker, providing case management to homeless women exiting federal and state incarceration. Her frontline experience in the field has shaped the lens from which she views the civil rights of marginalized populations. Amanda’s core values are rooted in social justice and advocacy – specifically surrounding the intersections of homelessness, incarceration, and gender inequality.

Francis Origanti

Dr. Francis Origanti is the Chair of the School of Sciences and the Program Director for Social Work at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. He also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Saint Louis University MSW at Avila. Dr. Origanti received his Ph.D. in Social Work from The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. During this time, he worked as a research assistant in the Office of Accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education. His primary teaching areas include Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Social Welfare Policy, Introduction to Social Welfare, and Social Work Research. He also teaches “Human Rights Issues,” an interdisciplinary travel course to India. His teaching philosophy is based on collaborative learning. He believes that students should be able to bridge all three areas of practice – micro, mezzo, and macro – skills in social work. Dr. Origanti brings with him a global perspective on understanding several social issues. He believes that we as a community need to address these social issues and there is no better place to begin this dialogue than in the classroom. Dr. Origanti currently serves as the vice chair on the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation, and a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.