Nationally, municipalities have enacted anti-homeless ordinances and arrested people for acts of survival: sleeping in vehicles, asking for money, sharing food, and more. This bill would protect persons experiencing homelessness from these unfair policies in MA.

Research consistently shows that people experiencing homelessness want to work. In a 2014 survey, the National Coalition for the Homeless reported at 70.4% of homeless respondents felt that they had been discriminated against by private businesses based on housing status.

LGBTQ+ youth both in Massachusetts and nationally report being turned away from shelters. They also report instances of homophobia and transphobia while in shelters.

This bill protects the rights of people experiencing homelessness in four ways:

1. Extends anti-discrimination protections in Chapter 151B and Chapter 272 of the Massachusetts General Laws to persons experiencing homelessness, including protections when seeking employment, housing, voter registration, and access to public spaces and places of public accommodation.

2. Secures the right of persons experiencing homelessness to rest, seek shelter from the elements, occupy a legally parked car, pray, eat, and avoid needless harassment in public spaces.

3. Provides people experiencing homelessness the right to a private right of action in the event of a violation of their rights provided under this bill.

4. Repeals Sections 63 through 69 of Chapter 272 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which includes archaic and derogatory terminology and laws criminalizing homelessness

Individual rights and liberties should be given to all people in Massachusetts, regardless of housing status. We are calling on the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass this Bill of Rights for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness this legislative cycle.