Coalition seeks bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness asked the committee to advance H.274, which would establish a bill of rights for unhoused individuals, add housing status as a protected class in state anti-discrimination law, and affirm rights such as access to public spaces, privacy of personal property, and the right to register and vote without a permanent address.

"House bill 274 would extend critical anti discrimination protections to people experiencing homelessness and affirm a range of fundamental rights," Julia Garvey of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless said. She told the committee the bill would also repeal antiquated state statutes referencing tramps and vagrants and give superior court jurisdiction to enforce rights.

Garvey said the proposal responds to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has encouraged local governments to criminalize unsheltered homelessness where shelter is not available; she argued that fines, tickets and bans do not reduce homelessness and harm physical and mental health.

The coalition urged a swift and favorable report and said written evidence and studies would be provided. Committee members did not hear opposing testimony during the session.