Legislators and activist groups have collaborated recently to introduce legislation to alleviate the burdens of the homeless. One bill would provide $12.5 million in funding to the Neighborhood Opportunities Program in the name of affordable housing, and another would delineate a homeless bill of rights. The latter would protect the homeless from discrimination in the workforce, housing, transportation and other public services. We absolutely support the legislation for affordable housing and strongly believe that the homeless bill of rights is the right move in the process of eliminating homelessness in Rhode Island. These two pieces of legislation benefit the homeless both by providing immediate relief and by combatting the roadblocks for systemic improvement.
Rhode Island consistently ranks in the top 10 states in terms of a proportional homeless population. Though between 2009 and 2012, the homeless population shrank by a third. Evidence suggests the volatility of the housing market is the culprit for the majority of those who lose their homes — not, as many tend to claim, personal issues like drug abuse and mental instability, which in fact only make up 10 percent and 22 percent of the homeless population, respectively. The legislation for affordable housing should help those who were forced into homelessness. This bill is a necessary first step towards achieving important changes that could have tangible benefits for Rhode Island's most vulnerable citizens.
The bill of rights for the homeless purports to guarantee that "no person's rights, privileges or access to public services may be denied or abridged solely because he or she is homeless," according to the bill's press release. Though the means of enforcing the bill are still unclear, we applaud Rhode Island's efforts to codify rights for the homeless in the form of concrete legislation. At the same time, the bill of rights, if passed, needs to include solid provisions for the enforcement of these rights, especially regarding the obtainment of housing and employment.
As a possible solution to enforcing anti-discrimination employment policies, we propose a form of affirmative action that would give preferential treatment, in at least firms with lower-skill qualifications, to employing homeless individuals who are actively seeking work. A homeless person "has the right not to face discrimination while seeking employment," but an affirmative action policy could help solidify the law. This is not only cost-minimizing to the firms, but it would also greatly help members of the homeless population find jobs that would fit their respective skill levels.
If Rhode Island wants to eliminate one problem on its growing checklist, the bill of rights needs to be explicit on anti-discrimination policies. Given the practical complications of implementing the bill, legislators may want to pursue a procedure for affirmative action. Overall, we applaud the efforts by legislators and activist groups to present a direct and realistic solution to the problems of affordable housing and believe that the bill of rights is a great precursor to future efforts to curb homelessness.
Editorials are written by The Herald's editorial page board. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
