SOCIETY: People have a right to be homeless

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Transcript:

Have you ever driven past someone living in a tent on the side of the highway? Maybe you’ve seen them asking for change on a street corner, or huddled in a doorway for warmth. It’s a sight that can spark a lot of different emotions – pity, frustration, even anger. But what about rights? Does everyone, regardless of circumstance, have the right to be homeless?

Welcome to your Dinner Table Debates Daily Deep Dive where we explore real topics from our decks and give you everything you need to debate, in under 10 minutes. Today's topic is "Everyone has the right to be homeless." and comes from the Society Category in our Full Size Essentials Collection deck. Let's Dig In.

Homelessness is a complex issue, with deep roots. For centuries, societies have grappled with how to handle those without a permanent place to live. Long ago, it was pretty normal for some people to move around and not have a fixed home. But as cities grew bigger and people started caring more about owning property, it became seen as a problem. The idea of a “right” to homelessness is a relatively new concept, fueled by a growing homelessness crisis, increase in advocacy groups and a patchwork of local and state laws.

It's not just about not having a house - it's also about human rights, how we take care of each other as a society, and personal freedom. When we talk about whether people have a "right" to be homeless, we're really asking some tough questions about how much freedom individuals should have and what responsibilities we have to each other.

I was recently watching the movie "The Beautiful Game" which is a fictional movie about a real and incredibly unique event - the Homeless World Cup that has been taking place in Italy since 2000. Homeless teams are gathered from around the world to compete in a soccer match every year. While it's not a documentary, the film highlights the systemic issues that contribute to homelessness and raises questions about societal responsibility. It's a reminder that homelessness is not just a personal issue, but a complex problem that involves inequality and lack of opportunity.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on a single night in 2020, more than 580,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. This number has been growing in recent years, especially in big cities.

It's important to talk about this because it makes us think about finding a balance between letting people make their own choices and making sure everyone in society is okay. It also makes us wonder if the ways we're trying to solve homelessness now are actually working.

Now, let's debate!

Agree:

1. People should be free to live how they want. Making someone live in a house if they don't want to isn't fair. This idea is based on the concept of personal liberty, which is protected by the U.S. Constitution. The 14th Amendment, for example, protects personal liberty, which some argue includes the right to choose where and how to live.

2. Making it illegal to be homeless doesn't fix the real problems. It can actually make it harder for homeless people to get jobs or homes later because they end up with a criminal record. In fact, a 2019 report from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty found that 72% of surveyed cities had laws restricting camping in public. These laws often lead to fines or arrests, which can make it even harder for homeless individuals to improve their situation. You can see the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sees the value in this argument. In Martin v. City of Boise in 2018 they ruled that it's unconstitutional to punish people for sleeping outside on public property when they have nowhere else to go.

3. Some people might choose to be homeless because of mental health issues, drug problems, or just because they want to live differently. If we respect their choice, we might find better ways to help. For instance, the "Housing First" approach, which provides housing without preconditions and has shown success in helping chronically homeless individuals. A study in Seattle found that this approach led to a 53% reduction in alcohol use among participants.

Disagree:

1. When people live on the streets, it can be dangerous for them and for others in the community. The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that homeless individuals are far more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. Also, unsheltered homelessness can lead to public health issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, homeless populations were particularly vulnerable to infection and had limited access to healthcare.

2. If we allow hom...