Chicago Union of the Homeless Petition for the Rights of the Homeless Populations of Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago
Whereas, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-humanrights/) was passed in Paris by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, and
Whereas the opening sentence of the Preamble is, “[R]ecognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,” and
Whereas, Article 1 states that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood,” and
Whereas Article 2 states that, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,” and
Whereas Article 3 states that, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person,” and
Whereas Article 21 states that, “Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in [their] country,” and
Whereas Article 23 states that, “Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of [their] interests,” and
Whereas Article 25 states that,
(1) “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) “Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection,”
Be It Therefore Resolved that, We the Undersigned do Petition the Governments of Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago to,
(1) Provide or cause to be provided immediate decent, safe, secure, permanent housing for the homeless population of their jurisdiction, including those living on the streets, in shelters and in abandoned buildings, and
(2) Provide or cause to be provided appropriate immediate mental and physical health care for that homeless population that they may be cared for and as appropriate, returned to health, and
(3) Recognize the Chicago Union of the Homeless (chicagohomelessunion@gmail.com) as a legitimate representative of the homeless population residing in their jurisdiction.