Introduction
Before COVID-19, many Americans were already facing housing insecurity, and the virus exacerbated the need for housing assistance. There is also an increasing wealth gap in America that directly impacts the unhoused. Many historically excluded groups (HEG’s), veterans, and low-income communities have struggled to maintain equitable and affordable housing. Recently, U.S. Representative Cori Bush received national attention for sleeping on the steps of the U.S. Capital Building to protest the ending of the federal eviction moratorium. The pressure prompted the Biden Administration to extend the moratorium. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) eviction moratorium extension.
Assignment
1. Watch the C-Span, History Bookshelf: The Color of Law. The Color of Law was written by Richard Rothstein and details a history of de jure segregation by the U.S. federal government. (It is an excellent book if you are interested in housing segregation.)
History Bookshelf. (2017, May 11). The Color of Law. C-Span [Video]. https://www.c-span.org/video/?428341-1/the-color-law
(Links to an external site.)
2. Review the Unhoused Bill of Rights resolution from U.S. Representative Cori Bush. For balance, I also added a report from The Manhattan Institute and a few articles from other conservative writers. Please review all of the items under ‘Required Reading’.
3. Draft a persuasive argument for or against the Unhoused Bill of Rights resolution (it is okay to be neutral, but you must state your reasoning). Think about the religious, political, cultural, economic, and societal implications of the Unhoused Bill of Rights.
Your submission must include the components below in essay format:
Provide a brief introduction of the Unhoused Bill of Rights. 1-2 sentence(s)
Give context and/or background on the Unhoused. 2-3 sentences
Describe how federalism divides power and resources between the U.S. federal government and state governments. 1-2 sentence(s)
Detail possible limitations of federalism and how the overreach may negatively impact the unhoused and local governments. 1-2 sentence(s)
Explain how federalism can impede or promote social justice work in housing equity. 1-2 sentence(s)
Share your position on the Unhoused Bill of Rights. (Acknowledge opposing viewpoints, if applicable.) 2-3 sentences
List facts/data/evidence that support your argument. 2-3 sentences
Summarize your argument. Do you have questions or a call to action? 1-2 sentence(s)
(I added the sentence length to assist those who prefer more detail. I am more interested in your ability to synthesize the information and the structure of your argument. Review the discussion rubric for more information.)
Questions to Think About:
Is it the federal governments responsibility to ensure that everyone has dignified and affordable housing?
What are the underlining issues surrounding the unhoused crisis in America?
Will the resolution actually help the unhoused?
How does environmental justice factor into housing inequities?
What structural change is needed to push for equitable housing?
How will the Unhoused Bill of Rights assist historically excluded groups (HEG’s)? LGBTQ+ youth? Veterans? The disabled community?
Is it feasible to end the unhoused crisis by 2025? If not, why? If so, how can it be accomplished?
Does the Unhoused Bill of Rights go far enough? What other measures should be included?
Does the federal government have the funds and/or resources to support the resolution?
Is the resolution the best use of resources?
What is the ratio of costs to benefits?
What are the political implications? Will the Unhoused Bill of Rights receive bipartisan support?
What are the short-term and long-term impacts of the Unhoused Bill of Rights?
Required Reading
H.Res.568 – 117th Congress (2021): Expressing that the United States is obligated to permanently end the unhoused crisis by 2025 and uphold, protect, and enforce the civil and human rights of unhoused individuals, including the human rights to housing, universal health care, livable wages, education, employment opportunities, access to public facilities, free movement in public spaces, privacy, confidentiality, internet access, vote, freedom from harassment by law enforcement, private businesses, property owners, and housed residents, and equal rights to health care, legal representation, and social services without discrimination based on housing status. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/568
(Links to an external site.)
(Condensed version of the Unhoused Bill of Rights resolution: Link
(Links to an external site.)
Eide, S. (2020, April 21). Housing First and Homelessness: The Rhetoric and the Reality. The Manhattan Institute. https://www.manhattan-institute.org/housing-first-effectiveness
(Links to an external site.)
National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2021). State of Homelessness: 2021 Edition. https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-2021/
(Links to an external site.)
Suggested Reading
Affo, M. (2021, August 25). Philly ‘eliminated’ veteran homelessness in 2015. Why are there still vets on the street? The Philadelphia Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.com/news/veterans-homelessness-philadelphia-va-success-20210825.html
(Links to an external site.)
Bump, P. (2020, January 7). The difference between red-state and blue-state homelessness. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/07/difference-between-red-state-blue-state-homelessness/
(Links to an external site.)
(This article requires a subscription, I have uploaded the PDF below.)
Gross, T. (2017, May 3). A ‘Forgotten History’ Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america
(Links to an external site.)
Harris, C. (2021, August 2021). Affordable Housing and the Dubious Promise of Inclusionary Zoning. The Governing. https://www.governing.com/community/affordable-housing-and-the-dubious-promise-of-inclusionary-zoning
(Links to an external site.)
Lake, J., Novack, V., & Ives-Rublee, M. (2021, May 27). Recognizing and Addressing Housing Insecurity for Disabled Renters. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/news/2021/05/27/500030/recognizing-addressing-housing-insecurity-disabled-renters/
(Links to an external site.)
National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2020, August 31). Democratic Party and the Republican Party Platforms Address Affordable Housing. https://nlihc.org/resource/democratic-party-and-republican-party-platforms-address-affordable-housing
(Links to an external site.)
Spunt, D. (2021, August 25). CDC’s eviction moratorium: Supreme Court set to rule on constitutionality of extension. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/us/supreme-court-constitutionality-cdc-eviction-moratorium-extension
(Links to an external site.)
Stoehr, J. (2014, March 20). The Answer To Homelessness. The American Conservative. https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-answer-to-homelessness/
(Links to an external site.)
Torens, C. (2021, May 10). ‘The pandemic hit, and my world came crashing down,’ homeless immigrant says. Chicago Sun Times. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/5/10/22429505/homeless-immigrants-covid-pandemic-homelessness
(Links to an external site.)
True Colors United. (n.d.). The State Index on Youth Homelessness, Quick Facts: Texas. National Homelessness Law Center. https://www.youthstateindex.com/texas
(Links to an external site.)
West, A. & Selvidge, S. (2020, March 5). The Architecture of Gentrification. The Texas Observer. https://www.texasobserver.org/gentrification-architecture/
(Links to an external site.)
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