The United States created history by hosting for the first time ever, the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Raquel Rolnik. Ms. Rolnik was on an official visit recently to the U.S.A. where she looked at the housing situation in several cities, namely, Washington, DC, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, as well as, Pacoima and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
At the conclusion of her visit on November 8th, the UN expert warned that, “Millions of people in the U.S. are spending high percentages of their income to make their monthly rent and mortgage payment, face foreclosure or eviction, and live in overcrowded and substandard conditions.”
“The number of homeless continues to rise with increasing numbers of working families and individuals finding themselves on the streets. The economic crisis has exacerbated this situation,” said Rolnik.
The U.S. has a longstanding and established history of commitment to decent, safe, and affordable housing, dating back to the National Housing Act of 1934, though certain groups such as minorities and Native Americans have not benefitted on an equal basis. Federal funding for low income housing has been cut over the past decades leading to decreased stock and quality of subsidized housing.
During this time, significant efforts have been taken to reshape the face of subsidized rental and public housing in the U.S., often demolishing public housing and promoting mixed income communities. “Though a good goal, implementation of mixed income developments in many cases leads to displacement, discriminatory practices and a reduction of the stock of affordable and adequate housing for low-income households,” stressed Ms. Rolnik.
Ms. Rolnik was pleased to note that, the new Administration is thinking critically and broadly on how to confront and solve the affordable housing crisis facing the country, with the view to reversing decades of budget cuts and proposing that large additional budgetary resources be directed toward housing. A wider range of permanent options for affordable housing, particularly for the most vulnerable, is required. However, in designing and implementing these options, she stressed that affected residents and community members should be partners in the planning and decision making process, as required by international human rights norms.
During her 18 day fact-finding mission, the UN expert met with senior Government officials at the local, state, and federal level, at the Department of State and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), among others. She held public town hall meetings in each city visited, and engaged in extensive discussions with many representatives from a strong network of non governmental organizations, hundreds of residents, and people experiencing homelessness. ‘Housing is a human right,’ was the rallying cry heard throughout these public meetings.
Source: cangress.wordpress.com
