Should Congress establish rights for the unhoused and transfer money from the defense budget to help end the unhoused crisis?
This resolution established rights for the unhoused and gives blanket protections to third parties who provide goods and services to unhoused individuals. Rights in the resolution include “the right to decent, affordable and accessible housing, livable wages, and universal healthcare.” It also established the right to public housing and grants after re-entering from the criminal justice center and not being penalized for sleeping or resting in a public space. Additionally, the resolution offers legal recourse to individuals whose rights (as defined in the resolution) are denied. Overall, the bill also transfers money from the defense budget to the Public Housing Capital Fund and the national Housing Trust Fund. Sponsor: Representative Corri Bush (Democrat, Michigan, District 1)
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Opponents say
• At the time of research and publication, no official opponent statements were found. This does not necessarily mean that nobody opposes the bill, nor does it mean that statements won’t be made in the future.
Proponents say
• "The Unhoused crisis in our country is a public health emergency, and a moral and policy failure at every level of our government…It is past time for the federal government to establish an Unhoused Bill of Rights and make the desperately needed investments to guarantee housing, healthcare, and a robust social safety net for our unhoused neighbors." Source: Representative Corri Bush Press Release (Democrat, Missouri, District 1)
• "Congress must use every opportunity to advance housing solutions that move our nation towards universal, stable, and affordable homes for everyone, the ‘Unhoused Bill of Rights’ resolution makes clear: housing is a human right and bold solutions – including universal rental assistance, robust resources to preserve public housing, and significant investments in the national Housing Trust Fund – are central to any strategy to ending homelessness. Homelessness is a policy choice, and I applaud Congresswoman Bush for helping to build the political will necessary to end this entirely preventable crisis." Source: Dianne Yentel (National Low Income Housing’s President and CEO)
• "In Expo Cane, Washington, we are seeing more violence in our schools and rising crime. Drug overdose deaths and fentanyl poising were up 300% last year. There is an overwhelming sense of despair, anxiety, fear, and isolation. It has been heightened by the horrific shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. Especially for our children, we need to deliver hope and healing in every community in our country. This bill will help children in crisis." Source: Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican, Washington District 5)
