Advocate for the right to a place to call home
In New York City, poverty, lack of affordable housing and evictions have pushed an increased number of individuals and families into homelessness. Every night, over 62,000 men, women, and children sleep in NYC shelters. As Maryann Broxton, activist and coordinator of the Multidimensional Aspects of Poverty research (MAP) recently shared at the United Nations: “Some use the term ‘the invisible homeless,’ but there are far too many men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in this country for figurative invisibility.” At 62,000 in New York City (not counting the rest of the US), homelessness is indeed far from invisible.
More often than not, it seems that people experiencing homelessness have their voices, experiences and aspirations ignored by a large part of society and policymakers. To counter this, ATD Fourth World strives to offer global and local platforms for our members experiencing homelessness to speak up and share their experiences and recommendations. This include issues about life in NYC shelter systems or in inadequate housing, but also how they fight discrimination and poverty on a daily basis.
At the global level, ATD Fourth World recently took part in the United Nations Commission for Social Development at the UN Headquarters in NYC, that focused for the first time ever on the issue of ending homelessness. Policy discussions revolved around affordable housing and social protection. During the Commission, four ATD Fourth World activists – James Abro, Stacy White, Maryann Broxton, Zena Grimes – made powerful contributions in plenary sessions and side-events. This was essential to ensure that global conversations around homelessness were truly rooted in lived experiences.
ATD Fourth World is also exploring participation at the local level, in New York City Council Hearings where the voices of the people are heard by both elected officials and city agencies. Themes range from inadequate food in the shelters and inconsistent conditions across the shelter system, to over policing and the rights of people experiencing homelessness in the subway system.
The elected officials remarked that homelessness cannot be tackled with a one size fits all approach. In addition, there is movement toward preventing homelessness during these times of escalating rents, so that very low income tenants know their rights, find access to free legal advice and have time to deal with setbacks before evictions happen. Seeing these changes is encouraging. However, the work continues as ATD Fourth World members continue to share their ongoing struggles.
The voices of people with the lived experience of poverty - both at the UN and the local level - aim to make a difference: to advocate for the right to a place to call home, and see their voices and ideas respected.
As the Covid19 pandemic unfolds in NYC and all corners of the world,
and as millions of individuals and families are asked to self-isolate in homes and practice social distancing, homeless families and individuals are more at risk with low access to healthcare and shelter systems. Those without access to or place to call home may not be reached at all with forthcoming government emergency disbursements and have not been asked what they need.
While there’s a freeze on evictions at state and city levels during this crisis, more needs to be done to listen to and learn from people experiencing homelessness. ATD Fourth World is staying connected with people at risk of not being heard. Join ATD Fourth World weekly Community Calls to bring your own voice.
