HomelessBillofRights
PROPOSEDRESOLUTIONINDECLARATIONOFTHECIVILLIBERTIESOFHOMELESS
PERSONS,INCLUDINGTHERIGHTTOFAIRTREATMENTUNDERTHELAW
Preamble:
Thisresolutionprovidesthatnopersonscivilliberties,privileges,orrightofaccesstopublicservices
andfacilitiescanbedeniedorabridgedduetothefactthatheorsheisexperiencinghomelessness.
SECTION1:
Anypersonexperiencinghomelessnesshasthesamecivilliberties,privileges,andrightofaccessto
publicservicesandfacilitiesasanyotherperson,including,butnotlimitedto,thefollowing:
Therighttouseandmovefreelyinpublicspacesincluding,butnotlimitedto,publicsidewalks,parks,
andtransportation
Therighttoequaltreatmentbyallcountyandmunicipalagencies,includingalllawenforcement
agencies,withoutdiscriminationonthebasisofhousingstatus
Therightnottofacediscriminationwhileseekingormaintainingemploymentduetothelackofa
permanentmailingaddressorbecauseonesmailingaddressisthatofahomelessshelterorsocial
serviceprovider
Therighttoemergencymedicalcarefreefromdiscriminationbasedonhousingstatus
Therighttovote,registertovote,andreceivedocumentationnecessarytoproveidentityforvoting
withoutdiscriminationduetohousingstatus
Therighttoareasonableexpectationofprivacyofhisorherpersonalpropertytothesameextentas
personalpropertyinapermanentresidence
Therighttolodgeformalcomplaintsagainstanyemployeeofcountyormunicipalagency,including
lawenforcementofficials,withoutfearofretaliation
Therighttoprotectionfromdisclosureofpersonalrecordsandinformationprovidedtohomeless
sheltersandserviceproviders,tocounty,municipal,andprivateentitieswithoutappropriatelegal
authoritytherighttoconfidentialityofpersonalrecordsandinformationinaccordancewithall
limitationsondisclosureestablishedbytheFederalHomelessManagementInformationSystems,
FederalHealthInsurancePortabilityandAccountabilityAct,andFederalViolenceagainstWomenAct.
SECTION2:
Thisresolutionprovidesrecognitionthatallhumanbeings,regardlessofhousingstatus,havethesame
basicneedstodefecate,urinate,accesscleanwaterandotherlivingnecessities.Thoseindividualswith
housingresourceshavetheopportunitytoperformthesefunctionswithdignityandrelativeprivacy
underhygieniccircumstancesandconditions.Thehomelessrequireaccesstofreepublicresourcesto
performthesefunctions.Oneofthemostsignificantresponsibilitiesofrelevantlocalgovernmentsisthe
provisionofclean,safe,andhighlyaccessiblefacilities,freetoall,toservethedefecation,urination,and
cleanwaterneedsofthegeneralpublic,includingtheuniqueneedsofthehomeless.
SECTION3:
Anoticeentitled"DECLARATIONOFHOMELESSPERSONSBILLOFRIGHTS"andcontaining
thetextinthisresolutionwillbeconspicuouslypostedinallpublicparksandonthenoticeboardsofall
municipalbuildings.
SECTION4:
Thisresolutionshallapplytocountyandmunicipalagenciesandemployees,includingalllaw
enforcementofficersandofficials,aswellasprivateactors.
SECTION5:
ToensureequitableandcosteffectiveenforcementoftheHomelessPersonsBillofRights,everylocal
lawenforcementagencyshallannuallycompile,review,andmakeavailabletoanyinquiringparty,the
numberofcitations,arrests,andotherenforcementactivitiesmadepursuanttolawsprohibitingthe
following:
Obstructingasidewalk,whetherbyapersonorpersonalproperty
Loitering
Sitting
Lyingdown
Camping
Publiclodging
Sleepinginapublicplace
Solicitingdonations
Solicitingdonationsatcertainrestrictedlocations,includingcitingpeopleforpanhandling
Bathinginpublicplaces
Sharingorreceivingfood
Inhabitingorsleepinginavehicle
Violatingpublicparkclosurelaws
Trespassing,unlessthetrespassingchargeiscoupledwithanyothermisdemeanororfelony.
SECTION6:
Forthepurposesofthisresolution,homelessmeanslackingafixed,regular,andadequateresidence,
orhavingaprimaryresidenceinashelter,onthestreet,inavehicle,inanenclosureorstructurethatis
notauthorizedorfitforhumanhabitation,substandardapartments,dwellings,doubleduptemporarily
withfriendsorfamilies,stayingintransitionalhousingprograms,stayinganywherewithouttenancy
rights,orstayingwithoneormorechildrenofwhomtheyaretheparentorlegalguardianina
residentialhotelwhetherornottheyhavetenancyrights.
