Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams is pushing for passage of his legislation declaring a first-of-its-kind ‘Homeless Bill of Rights,’ which would codify the rights of homeless individuals both outside of and within the city’s shelter system, as well as standards required to be met within shelters.
The bill, first introduced as the city conducted a rapid series of sweeps to dismantle homeless encampments, was heard by the City Council Committee on General Welfare on Monday.
The bill, Intro 190, would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to produce a Homeless Bill of Rights, which would inform people experiencing homelessness about their rights and services available to them. In addition, DHS would be required to make this document available on its website and to provide it to shelters and social services offices for distribution to people experiencing homelessness. Council Member Rafael Salamanca is a co-prime sponsor of the bill.