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COHRE and partners appear before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (May 2005)
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USA
Housing as a Human Right
The wealthiest country in the world—the United States of America—is home to millions of people who lack adequate housing. Beyond the epidemic of homelessness, which affects an estimated 3.5 million Americans every year, some 1.35 million of whom are children, millions more live in poor housing conditions that often rival those found in far less developed countries. Although the human right to adequate housing is recognized in numerous international human rights instruments and scores of related policy documents and has long been regarded as essential to ensuring the well-being and dignity of all humans, a stark gap exists between these human rights principles and the current housing situation, as well as the view of housing rights, within the United States. This divide is all the more disturbing when one considers the enormous economic power and wealth of the United States, leading one to question the political decisions and priorities that have led to this degree of human rights violation.
COHRE and its partner, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP), have undertaken a multi-year project in order to provide training to increase the capacity of state, local and allied national groups in the United States to advocate successfully for housing by adding a rights-based approach and a human rights framework and language to existing strategies. As part of this training, COHRE and NLCHP provide concrete strategies, materials and follow up advocacy support. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a housing as a human right social movement in the United States and thereby finally hold the Government of the United State accountable.
COHRE – U.S. Office
8 N. 2nd Avenue East
Suite 208
Duluth, MN 55802
U.S.A.
Tel/Fax: +1.218.733.1370
Email: bret@cohre.org
mayra@cohre.org
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| Training Manual: Promoting and Defending Housing Rights in the U.S. |
The purpose or goal of human rights education is empowerment in order to bring about social change. Many people who do not know their rights are more vulnerable to having them abused and may lack the language and conceptual framework to effectively advocate for them.
Education for and about human rights is essential; it can contribute to the building of free, just, and peaceful societies. Human rights education is also increasingly recognized as an effective strategy to prevent human rights abuses.
With this premise in mind, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and NLCHP have developed this resource manual as a guide for housing rights activists in the United States and for those interested in becoming involved in housing rights issues, and/or for use as a resource during training programs.
The manual presents information, articles and activities that address housing issues in the U.S.
 download pdf [en]
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| Power Point Training: Promoting and Defending Housing Rights in the U.S. |
The following Power Point Presentation (in pdf format) is designed to complement the COHRE and NLCHP Housing Rights Training Manual.
download pdf [en]
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| 2007 Forum on the Human Right to Housing Follow-Up Report |
On 5 November 2007 close to 200 advocates gathered in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington, DC for the Centre on Housing Rights and Eivctions' (COHRE) and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's (NLCHP) annual National Forum on the Human Right to Housing.
The forum connected via videoconference housing and human rights advocates, activists, lawyers, and service providers in each city who shared the strategies they are using at the local level to build the movement for the human right to housing.
The day's outcomes included international and domestic advocacy for those fighting the imminent destruction of public housing in New Orleans, a deeper understanding of local advocacy strategies, and a strengthened sense of solidarity amongst the participants that they are part of a truly national movement for the human right to housing.
This follow-up report details conference outcomes and next steps each location will take to promote the right to housing in the U.S.
download pdf [en]
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| COHRE Testimony to National Truth Commission on Human Rights Violations in the United States |
In late 2008, COHRE presented testimony on housing rights violations in the United States to the Minnesota Truth Commission and the National Truth Commission on Human Rights Violations in the United States. The written testimony can be accessed and downloaded below.
download pdf [en]
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| COHRE Shadow Report to CERD |
COHRE Shadow Report to CERD on the United States
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COHRE Request to CERD for Urgent Action (Katrina IDPs)
download pdf [en]
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| Minnesota Workshop Information |
Download info here
download pdf [en]
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| COHRE Documents and Reports on Housing as a Human Right in the United States |
National Forum on the Human Right to Housing Final Report (2006)
download pdf [en]
COHRE Shadow Report to the Human Rights Committee
 download doc [en]
COHRE/NLCHP US Project Training Manual
download doc [en]
COHRE and Partners’ Letter to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
download doc [en]
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| Post Hurricane Katrina and Housing Rights |
New Orleans Workshop (COHRE internal report)
download doc [en]
COHRE Pamphlet on Right to Return
download pdf [en]
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| COHRE Articles on Housing as a Human Right in the United States |
American Bar Association journal article
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| Partner Articles on Housing as a Human Right in the United States |
Clearinghouse REVIEW Journal of Poverty Law and Policy article
download pdf [en]
NESRI Issue Brief: Right to Housing in the United States
download pdf [en]
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What's in the COHRE Library?
Of relevance to the subject of Post Hurricane Katrina and Housing Rights, is the following publication:
"Pinheiro Principles on Housing, Land and Property Restitution" (2005)
To download a copy of the "Pinheiro Principles", please go to COHRE's online library, Special Reports.
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Related Links |
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty ( Link )
Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign ( Link )
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless ( Link )
Chicago Coalition to Protect Public Housing ( Link )
Kensington Welfare Rights Union ( Link )
NESRI - National Economic and Social Rights Initiative ( Link )
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