Housing as a Human Right
Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Housing as a Human Right” Policy has laid out a plan to help with homelessness in America. According to the Affordable Housing Policy written by the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
“Leading housing advocates report that 11 million households spend more than one-half of their income on rent. And a recent Harvard study reports that 38.1 million households spend more than one-third of their income on housing. Too many families in both categories are an unexpected bill away from sliding into homelessness.”
Over the past decade, the national population has grown by 19 million, increasing the need for housing. Statistics show that young adults and individuals who experience chronic homelessness are impacted the most. Chronic homelessness is defined as being homeless for at least a year or recurrently while dealing with significant mental illnesses, substance use issues, or physical disabilities. Urban areas such as New York are especially concerning, since populations are very dense and resources are not distributed equitably. Additionally, city centers are the hubs for further population growth, which perpetuates chronic homelessness.
In addition to AOC’s existing platforms on curbing rent increases and ensuring rental access to lower-income renters, legislators need to be encouraged to change the normative framework surrounding this issue with more advocacy and awareness regarding the housing crisis.
The housing crisis falls under intersectional issues in society, which has exacerbated poverty and homelessness. Black populations make up 39 percent of the homeless population. This is attributable to the root causes of systemic racism and segregation. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
“From slavery to segregation, African Americans have been systemically denied rights and socioeconomic opportunities. Other minority groups, including Indigenous and Latinx people, share similar histories. The disproportionality in homelessness is a by-product of systemic inequity: the lingering effects of racism continue to perpetuate disparities in critical areas that impact rates of homelessness.”
The housing crisis, especially during COVID-19, is a socio-economic problem that needs prioritization. Evidence shows that living without a secure home has significant health consequences. Chronically speaking, homeless people have significantly higher mortality and morbidity rates. Those who experience housing instability (such as moving frequently, falling behind on their rent, or couch surfing) are more likely to have serious health issues than those who have stable housing.
To learn more about how change can be made, check out Javier Lopez’s piece: “A Community Healing Agenda: To Improve Public Health, Make Housing a Human Right.”
