Tlaib Introduces Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights

Resources / Press Share on Tlaib Introduces Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights Apr 30, 2026 Press WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights , a resolution which declares inalienable rights for unhoused persons and provides solutions for the federal government to permanently end the crisis. This legislation responds to the affordability crisis faced by millions of low-income renters, where rising housing costs continue to rapidly outpace wages and deny people adequate shelter. On any given night in the U.S., roughly 771,000 individuals are unhoused. Each year, roughly 1 million K-12 students experience homelessness. At a time when the Trump Administration is destabilizing homelessness assistance and the Supreme Court has allowed cities to criminalize homelessness in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson , the Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights provides a comprehensive, intersectional analysis of the multitude of issues faced by our unhoused neighbors—particularly their criminalization, discrimination, dehumanization, and mistreatment by law enforcement, private businesses, and housed persons. This bill describes the fundamental human rights that must be enforced to protect individuals who live without homes. To end the unhoused crisis, this legislation calls for extensive federal investments into homeless assistance programs, affordable housing initiatives, and wraparound services that keep people permanently housed. This legislation was first introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Congresswoman Cori Bush. “Having access to a safe place to live is a human right. Every year, Congress passes another record-breaking military budget, and President Trump just requested a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget this year. Experts say it would cost a fraction of this to end homelessness in our country,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “Congress has the power and the resources, but our elected official’s priorities are shamefully misplaced. I’m proud to re-introduce the Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights, legislation that commits the federal government to addressing the root of our nation’s housing crisis once and for all.” Specifically, this legislation: Provides a blueprint for the federal government to permanently end the unhoused crisis by drastically increasing the affordable housing stock, providing universal housing vouchers, and bolstering funding to federal housing programs, shelters, transitional and permanent housing programs, social services, and permanent emergency rental assistance; Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the unhoused crisis a public health emergency; Calls on Congress to protect unhoused individuals from the violation of their fundamental human rights to housing, healthcare, livable wages, education, employment opportunities, access to public facilities, and freedom from harassment by law enforcement, private businesses, property owners, and housed residents; Supports historic federal funding levels for state and local governments to provide 24-hour support for unhoused people, including: shelters, transitional housing programs, supportive services, public restrooms, hand-washing stations, showers, laundry facilities, and water fountains in coordination with grassroots and community-led organizations; Details holistic, health-based, and non-carceral solutions to the unhoused crisis in coordination with federal agencies, community-led organizations, and unhoused advocates from a health-based approach that addresses both the unhoused and public health crises. The Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights is cosponsored by Representatives Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). This legislation is endorsed by: Advantage Health, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Creative Innovative, Detroit Justice Center, Detroit People’s Platform, Duffy Health Center, Health, Homelessness, & Criminal Justice Lab, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Homelessness Law Center, National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, Nevada Homeless Alliance, Team Management 2000, Inc. (TM2K), and WOWMIN SERVICES, INC. “We fully endorse the Unhoused Bill of Rights. We believe that dignity is not a privilege—it is a right. The Homeless Bill of Rights affirms what we have always known: that people experiencing homelessness are not invisible, not voiceless, and not without value. They are our neighbors, our family, our community—and they deserve protection, respect, and opportunity. At the National Coalition for the Homeless, we stand firmly behind this effort because justice cannot exist where people are punished simply for surviving. T