Why isn't housing considered a basic human right?

It's right there in Maslow's hierarchy of needs: the most basic of human needs are food and shelter. And yet when it comes to the basic human rights protected by law in our country, the right to housing is not included.  Yes, there are shelters - with rules. There are housing programs - with requirements that need to be met before you can access them. There are housing vouchers - with wait lists up to a decade long. None of those resources are easily accessible or available to anyone in need.  During this session, we'll talk about the incredible disparities among those experiencing homelessness. If you're not white and straight, you're automatically at a higher risk of housing instability.  We'll talk about hostile design. It's not just the leaner benches at bus stops and spikes on park benches - hostile design goes much deeper, affecting the quality of low-income apartments.  We'll talk about poverty as a choice made by our legislators. Red-lining and other policy decisions have systemically disadvantaged individuals over generations and leads to increased homelessness and housing insecurity.  And finally, we'll talk about solutions. What can philanthropy do to not only fill in the gaps created by society but get to the root cause of homelessness?

Speakers

• Valerie Johnson, MBA, CFRE, Vice President of Advancement and Special Projects, Pathways to Housing
• Rob Wetherington, MA, Director of Community Inclusion and Advocacy, Pathways to Housing
• More Speakers to be announced!