SAN FRANCISCO ASSEMBLYMAN TOM AMMIANO introducing CALIFORNIA HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

CALIFORNIA HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).

The California homeless rights legislation follows intense advocacy by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Jericho: A Voice for Justice, the Western Regional Advocacy Project and other organizations.


"We need to stop criminalizing the behavior of people who have nowhere else to turn," said California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. "The Homeless Persons' Bill of Rights begins to give us a framework for appropriate approaches to protecting our communities and those who are vulnerable."


The California Homeless Persons' Bill of Rights and Fairness Act would guarantee certain rights for homeless people across the state, including:

•Freedom from discrimination in law enforcement,

•Freedom from discrimination in employment,

•Freedom from discrimination in housing and shelter,

•Freedom from discrimination in public benefits,

•Protection of the right to use public space,

•Protection of the right to keep personal property,

•Protection of the right to engage in life-sustaining activities,

•Protection of the right to legal counsel when prosecuted.


UPDATE AUGUST 2013 - PLEASE SEE OUR SIDEBAR FOR VOTING INFORMATION. YES YOU CAN VOTE THOUGH HOMELESS!