The Homeless Bill of Rights was officially launched on 28 November at the Cities Forum in Rotterdam. The Bill (a joint-initiative of FEANTSA and Housing Rights Watch) aims to protect and vindicate the rights of homeless people. In a climate where cities, regions and even some countries are using the criminal and administrative justice systems to minimise the visibility of people experiencing homelessness and punish those who engage in life-sustaining or natural human activities in public spaces, we are calling on European cities to adopt a rights-based approach to homelessness. The Bill itself is a compilation of basic rights drawn from European and international human rights law. Cities across Europe are encouraged to endorse it in order to reaffirm their commitment to human rights, which should be a guide to tackling the root causes of poverty and homelessness.
So far Barcelona and four Slovene cities have signed it and several other large European cities have initiated the process.
We encourage you to lobby your city to sign the Bill. If you need any help with this, please contact Maria José Aldanas.
