[PASSED] Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act

[Xernon]

Dear WA ambassadors,

Today, I come to you with the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. This is our delegation's first ever proposal to the General Assembly, and we are excited and eager to tackle such an important topic like homelessness. Likewise, we are eager to read and address your feedback and comments as we seek to strengthen this resolution and eventually present it to our esteemed member nations for their vote. Thank you! - Count Nyle, WA Ambassador - Principality of Xernon

OOC: I want to give a special thanks to two people who were instrumental in helping me get this resolution in shape to present to you. Hulldom and Maowi have been phenomenal mentors and advisors over the course of drafting and editing this resolution, and I greatly appreciate them being so open and willing to assist a newcomer to the WA.

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Strong

The General Assembly,

Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health, social, and economic indicators of member nations, and

Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting homelessness,

Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution:
   
   1. ''homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters and boarding houses, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
   2. "housing status" refers to whether an inhabitant is homeless or not.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and shall be responsible for:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless inhabitants, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Collaborating with member nations to establish annual homeless population reduction milestones, also referred to as homelessness reduction milestones, taking into account each member nation's resources and fiscal status.
   3. Researching innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing.
   4. Employing volunteer based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless inhabitants in low resource member nations.
3. Member nations must establish local housing agencies tasked with providing homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with housing resources and case management services.
4. Member nations shall guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to:
   
   1. Access and use spaces designated for public use, including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation, within their normal hours of operation and for their designated purpose. Cases where an inhabitant poses a clear and present danger to the safety of those around them shall be an exception to this clause.
   2. Register for and receive government documents and services.
5. Member nations shall enact laws that prohibit discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status. This excludes assessing an employee or candidate's geographic location when making employment-related decisions.
6. Member nations must provide inhabitants experiencing homelessness with access to the following services:
   
   1. Emergency and preventative healthcare.
   2. Food assistance either directly via food vouchers or in collaboration with local food banks.
   3. Vocational training and job finding assistance.
7. Member nations shall endeavor to achieve their homelessness reduction milestones. As part of this, member nations must:
   1. Create systems of welfare to assist low-income homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services.
   2. Establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
   3. Implement permanent housing accommodations for the disabled and inhabitants with chronic health conditions who may be at an increased risk of homelessness. Such accommodations shall not be segregated from other residential communities nor shall they be considered an inheritable entitlement. Inhabitants retain their right to free movement.
   4. Create a homelessness strategy that targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness.
   5. Facilitate full and free access to education for homeless children by providing them with the transportation and resources necessary to attend school.
   6. Enact laws that protect inhabitants from the loss of their residential property without legal justification or fair compensation. For purposes of this resolution, legal justification refers to foreclosure or seizure due to criminal or civil misconduct in accordance with the laws of member nations.
   7. Equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health risks and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
8. The WA General Accounting Office (GAO) shall allocate and provide funds at the request of any member nation for the purposes of complying with this legislation, so long as the recipient member nation:
   1. Uses the funds exclusively to fulfill the mandates of this legislation, and
   2. Is deemed to be a low resource nation, or
   3. Is suffering from an economic downturn that renders it unable to achieve its homelessness reduction milestones.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Strong

The General Assembly,

Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
2. A division of the WA General Accounting Office (GAO), entitled the Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH), is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of milestones and strategies to prevent and end homelessness.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless inhabitants, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Collaborating with member nations to establish annual homeless population reduction milestones, also referred to as homelessness reduction milestones, taking into account each member nation's resources and fiscal status.
   3. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness through educational and fundraising campaigns.
   4. Formulating homelessness prevention strategies based on the different types of homelessness and modifying them to meet the needs of member nations.
   5. Researching innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing.
   6. Employing volunteer based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless inhabitants in low resource member nations.
4. Member nations must establish local housing agencies tasked with providing homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with housing resources and case management services. Local housing agencies shall be responsible for annually assessing the population of homeless inhabitants within their localities and reporting that information to their national governments and the IGH.
5. Member nations shall guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to access spaces designated for public use, including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation, within their normal hours of operation. Cases where an inhabitant poses a clear risk to public safety in accordance with the laws of member nations shall be an exception to this clause.
6. Member nations shall further guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to register for and receive government documents and services.
7. Member nations shall enact laws that prohibit discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status. This excludes assessing an employee or candidate's geographic location when making employment-related decisions.
8. Member nations must provide inhabitants experiencing homelessness with access to the following services:
   
   1. Emergency and preventative healthcare.
   2. Food assistance either directly via food vouchers or in collaboration with local food banks.
   3. Vocational training and job finding assistance.
9. Member nations shall endeavor to achieve their homelessness reduction milestones. As part of this, member nations must:
   1. Create a system, or systems, of welfare to assist homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services.
   2. Establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
   3. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent housing accommodations and support for the disabled and inhabitants with chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness. Such accommodations shall not be considered an inheritable entitlement and inhabitants retain their right to free movement.
   4. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness.
   5. Facilitate full and free access to education for homeless children by providing them with the transportation and resources necessary to attend school.
   6. Enact laws that protect land and property owners from the loss of their land or property without legal justification or fair compensation. For purposes of this resolution, legal justification refers to foreclosure or seizure due to criminal or civil misconduct in accordance with the laws of member nations.
   7. Equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
10. The WA General Accounting Office (GAO) shall allocate and provide funds at the request of any member nation for the purposes of complying with this legislation, so long as the recipient member nation:
    1. Uses the funds exclusively to provide services to inhabitants dealing with or at risk of homelessness, and
    2. Is deemed to be economically unable to implement the measures necessary to attain its homelessness reduction milestones.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Strong

The General Assembly,

Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters and boarding houses, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of milestones and strategies to prevent homelessness.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Collaborating with member nations to establish annual homeless population reduction milestones, taking into account each member nation's resources and fiscal status.
   3. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness through educational and fundraising campaigns.
   4. Formulating homelessness prevention strategies based on the different types of homelessness and modifying them to meet the needs of member nations.
   5. Researching innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing.
   6. Employing volunteer based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless individuals in low resource member nations.
4. Member nations are required to allow their inhabitants to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation. Member nations must report this information to the IGH.
5. Member nations shall guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to access and use public spaces, including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation.
6. Member nations shall further guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to apply for government documents and register for government services.
7. Member nations shall enact laws that prohibit discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status.
8. Member nations must provide inhabitants experiencing homelessness with access to the following services:
   
   1. Emergency and preventative healthcare.
   2. Food assistance either directly via food vouchers or in collaboration with local food banks.
   3. Vocational training and job finding assistance.
9. Members must allocate funds dedicated to assisting homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services.
10. Member nations must also establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
11. Additionally, member nations must:
    
    1. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent affordable housing accommodations and support for the disabled and individuals with chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness.
    2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness.
    3. Ensure that homeless children have full and free access to education, including transportation to and from school.
    4. Enact laws that work towards ensuring land and property owners are not at risk of losing their land or property arbitrarily and without cause.
    5. Equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Significant

The General Assembly,

Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters and boarding houses, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of milestones and strategies to end homelessness.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Setting annual homeless population reduction milestones for member nations, taking into account their resources and economic abilities.
   3. Imposing probationary warnings and financial penalties on nations that fail to comply with their annual homelessness reduction milestones.
   4. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness through educational and fundraising campaigns.
   5. Researching homelessness prevention strategies based on the different types of homelessness and modifying them to meet the needs of member nations.
   6. Researching innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing.
   7. Employing volunteer based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless individuals in low resource member nations.
4. Member nations are required to allow their inhabitants to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation. Member nations must report this information to the IGH.
5. Member nations shall comply with all IGH mandates and required homelessness reduction milestones.
6. Member nations must provide inhabitants experiencing homelessness with access to the following services:
   
   1. Emergency and preventative healthcare.
   2. Food assistance either directly via food vouchers or in collaboration with local food banks.
   3. Vocational training and job finding assistance.
7. Member nations must establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
8. Additionally, member nations must:
   
   1. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent affordable housing projects and support for the disabled and individuals with chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness.
   2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness.
   3. Enact laws that work towards ensuring land and property owners are not at risk of losing their land or property arbitrarily and without cause.
   4. Equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Significant

The General Assembly,
Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to decrease, counteract, and end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of physical housing and consistent housing amenities that often highlights poor economic background, lack of employment, impairment of physical and psychological health, and social factors such as family loss.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of strategies to end homelessnesss.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness.
   3. Aiding national governments in building permanent housing for homeless individuals.
4. Member nations shall develop individual strategies to combat the challenges of homelessness.
5. Member nations must formulate individual approaches aimed towards the specification and identification of various categories of homelessness.
6. Member nations must consolidate the efforts of their different legislative approaches on a set of actions that will aim to create sustainable solutions to homelessness.
7. Member nations are urged to allow their citizens to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation.
8. Member nations must establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
9. Additionally, member nations must:
   
   1. Implement permanent affordable housing projects and support for individuals with chronic health conditions.
   2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations.
   3. Formulate and implement a reform strategy on land and property ownership that works towards ensuring families living in their current households are not at risk of losing their housing.
   4. Establish traditional night shelters whose primary function will be to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

[Tinhampton]

Alexander Smith, Tinhamptonian Delegate-Ambassador to the World Assembly: Is your intention with Article 9c in particular to impose an indefinite moratorium on evictions for any reason - including failure to pay rent or other utility bills for any period of time - while this proposal remains in force?

Dear WA ambassadors,

Today, I come to you with the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. This is our delegation's first ever proposal to the General Assembly, and we are excited and eager to tackle such an important topic like homelessness. Likewise, we are eager to read and address your feedback and comments as we seek to strengthen this resolution and eventually present it to our esteemed member nations for their vote. Thank you! - Count Nyle, WA Representative - Principality of Xernon

OOC: I want to give a special thanks to two people who were instrumental in helping me get this resolution in shape to present to you. Hulldom and Maowi have been phenomenal mentors and advisors over the course of drafting and editing this resolution, and I greatly appreciate them being so open and willing to assist a newcomer to the WA.

(Image)

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Significant

The General Assembly,
Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to decrease, counteract, and end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of physical housing and consistent housing amenities that often highlights poor economic background, lack of employment, impairment of physical and psychological health, and social factors such as family loss.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of strategies to end homelessnesss.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness.
   3. Aiding national governments in building permanent housing for homeless individuals.
4. Member nations shall develop individual strategies to combat the challenges of homelessness.
5. Member nations must formulate individual approaches aimed towards the specification and identification of various categories of homelessness.
6. Member nations must consolidate the efforts of their different legislative approaches on a set of actions that will aim to create sustainable solutions to homelessness.
7. Member nations are urged to allow their citizens to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation.
8. Member nations must establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
9. Additionally, member nations must:
   
   1. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent affordable housing projects and support for individuals with chronic health conditions.
   2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations.
   3. Formulate and implement a reform strategy on land and property ownership that works towards ensuring families living in their current households are not at risk of losing their housing.
   4. Establish traditional night shelters whose primary function will be to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

[Bananaistan]

"Bananaistan is a proper socialist country. All citizens and permanent residents have a constitutional right to their own home which is fulfilled through the provision of subsidised, local authority built and managed homes. We understand and support the effort to force the so called liberal democracies to perform the functions one would expect of any reasonable nation but we should not be required to undertake a series of bureaucratic steps which serve no function in our nation."

[Abacathea]

Dear WA ambassadors,

Today, I come to you with the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. This is our delegation's first ever proposal to the General Assembly, and we are excited and eager to tackle such an important topic like homelessness. Likewise, we are eager to read and address your feedback and comments as we seek to strengthen this resolution and eventually present it to our esteemed member nations for their vote. Thank you! - Count Nyle, WA Representative - Principality of Xernon

OOC: I want to give a special thanks to two people who were instrumental in helping me get this resolution in shape to present to you. Hulldom and Maowi have been phenomenal mentors and advisors over the course of drafting and editing this resolution, and I greatly appreciate them being so open and willing to assist a newcomer to the WA.

Welcome, and I must say before going any further, its great to see new authors, and an admirable goal too.

Now, the red pen...

The General Assembly,
Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to decrease, counteract, and end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,

• Style wise, a line break after "the general assembly" would be appeasing, but that is personal preference.
• "Decrease, counteract and end", I just don't like that, it feels like it would be sufficient to just state "end".

Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,

One T in combating?

Hereby enacts the following:
[For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of physical housing and consistent housing amenities that often highlights poor economic background, lack of employment, impairment of physical and psychological health, and social factors such as family loss.

Personally I'd put the definition before the enactments, in my experience this is generally addressed early doors in legislation before the teeth so to speak. I'd also be a tad weary of this definition. I don't think it fits right. Homelessness I personally think is better defined as the inability to access or acquire physical housing rather than a lack of.

[*]The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of strategies to end homelessnesss.
[*]The role of the IGH is as follows:
[list=a][*]Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
[*]Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness.
[*]Aiding national governments in building permanent housing for homeless individuals.

I like point the third, it may well be relevant to address where the finances are coming from? Point the second seems....moot? Surely this legislation highlights it in itself? But that might be me nit-picking.

[*]Member nations shall develop individual strategies to combat the challenges of homelessness. [*]Member nations must formulate individual approaches aimed towards the specification and identification of various categories of homelessness.

Not a fan, member nations developing their individual strategies obviously hasn't worked or you wouldn't need to be proposing this legislation. My individual strategy for example, could be to donate a cent a week until I've accrued enough cents to buy a tent and donate it to someone.

[*]Member nations are urged to allow their citizens to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation.

I feel if you've developed a council tasked with collecting information, it may be more appropriate to allow citizens to report directly to them rather than to authorities that simply may not give a shit?
l

Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations.

Why?

Formulate and implement a reform strategy on land and property ownership that works towards ensuring families living in their current households are not at risk of losing their housing.

This seems problematic. It is far more frequent than people think wherein people deliberately default on debt when they know a state is not overly pushed on being seen to be permitting land/housing evictions. This could be opening the doors for that.

Overall I must say, not a bad first go. I look forward to seeing how this develops.

[Xernon]

Alexander Smith, Tinhamptonian Delegate-Ambassador to the World Assembly: Is your intention with Article 9c in particular to impose an indefinite moratorium on evictions for any reason - including failure to pay rent or other utility bills for any period of time - while this proposal remains in force?

Dear WA ambassadors,

Today, I come to you with the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. This is our delegation's first ever proposal to the General Assembly, and we are excited and eager to tackle such an important topic like homelessness. Likewise, we are eager to read and address your feedback and comments as we seek to strengthen this resolution and eventually present it to our esteemed member nations for their vote. Thank you! - Count Nyle, WA Representative - Principality of Xernon

OOC: I want to give a special thanks to two people who were instrumental in helping me get this resolution in shape to present to you. Hulldom and Maowi have been phenomenal mentors and advisors over the course of drafting and editing this resolution, and I greatly appreciate them being so open and willing to assist a newcomer to the WA.

(Image)

Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act | Proposed by: Xernon

Category: Social Justice | Strength: Significant

The General Assembly,
Acknowledging the negative impact of homelessness on the health and social and economic indicators of member nations,
Highlighting the immediate need to decrease, counteract, and end the homelessness crisis experienced by member nations,
Recognizing that regardless of the proposed solutions to the underlying economic causes of low standards of living presented in Resolution #344, “Minimum Standard of Living Act”, it remains a challenge for young people and the elderly alike to secure housing,
Believing that additional solutions are necessary for combatting the homelessness crisis,
Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of physical housing and consistent housing amenities that often highlights poor economic background, lack of employment, impairment of physical and psychological health, and social factors such as family loss.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established and tasked with acquiring information and statistics regarding homelessness and displacement in member nations as well as assisting member nations with the development of strategies to end homelessnesss.
3. The role of the IGH is as follows:
   
   1. Collecting annual data from member nations pertaining to: the population of homeless individuals, measures taken by member nations to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures.
   2. Communicating the need for international efforts to contribute toward eradicating homelessness.
   3. Aiding national governments in building permanent housing for homeless individuals.
4. Member nations shall develop individual strategies to combat the challenges of homelessness.
5. Member nations must formulate individual approaches aimed towards the specification and identification of various categories of homelessness.
6. Member nations must consolidate the efforts of their different legislative approaches on a set of actions that will aim to create sustainable solutions to homelessness.
7. Member nations are urged to allow their citizens to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation.
8. Member nations must establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.
9. Additionally, member nations must:
   
   1. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent affordable housing projects and support for individuals with chronic health conditions.
   2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations.
   3. Formulate and implement a reform strategy on land and property ownership that works towards ensuring families living in their current households are not at risk of losing their housing.
   4. Establish traditional night shelters whose primary function will be to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

We thank the esteemed Delegate-Ambassador for their question. To answer, I will point out that this clause refers specifically to land ownership. As it is stipulated, it seeks to push nations to establish laws that would protect property owners from arbitrary/forced land seizures which may displace and render them homeless.

"Bananaistan is a proper socialist country. All citizens and permanent residents have a constitutional right to their own home which is fulfilled through the provision of subsidised, local authority built and managed homes. We understand and support the effort to force the so called liberal democracies to perform the functions one would expect of any reasonable nation but we should not be required to undertake a series of bureaucratic steps which serve no function in our nation."

We laud the representative from Bananaistan on their nation's progressive efforts in the area of housing. We note and firmly agree with the representative that the stipulations of this resolution are rather reasonable. We note the need for this resolution due to the severe negative impacts that homelessness can have on the inhabitants of member nations, impacting their health, financial well-being, and ability to be productive, functioning members of society. We firmly believe that wherever homelessness exist there is a duty to tackle and address it, and we hope that this resolution and its stipulations will set us on the path to do just that.

[Xernon]

-snip-

We thank the delegation from Abacathea for their thorough review and comments on the draft. We shall endeavor to address each of the points of feedback to the best of our ability and notify the delegation when he have done so.

[Xanthorrhoea]

*Sorry for the formatting, I’m writing on my phone. I’ll edit this later to make I more readable.

Adding on to what others have said. Firstly, it’s a good target for a resolution and I agree stronger protections to reduce homelessness are welcome. I fully support the principle of this resolution.

Firstly, I notice you’ve made it a significant strength proposal. To be honest, I disagree with that categorisation, it’s mild at best. It’s very aspirational, and there are no specific benchmarks/standards to meet or strong obligations imposed by this resolution. It’s all urging, information collecting and developing. As noted by the Abacathean ambassador, there’s no minimum standard for the strategies nations come up with. I could distribute a dollar a year to affordable housing and still fulfil the requirements of the proposal. I’d recommend requiring actions rather than urging or encouraging them, and rewording the clauses so that nations have to put in more than a minimal effort to comply. Alternatively, if you prefer the current wording, maybe change it to a ‘mild’ strength resolution.

On to specifics;

Clause 1: Your homelessness definition feels very puffed up and has a lot of unnecessary elements IMO. I also find it a bit narrow. I think your definition misses people who are couch surfing and have no fixed address. Just because you currently have shelter, does not mean you will tomorrow. I’d focus your definition on access to stable/predictable/reliable accomodation, rather than physically lacking housing. (Also maybe offering an exclusion in your definition of nomadic lifestyles as well, caravaneers may be crazy IMO, but it’s a legitimate way to live your life) I’d drop the bit about poor economic background/employment etc as well. It doesn’t add to the function or meaning of your definition for the purposes of the proposal. If you’d really like to keep it, it might be better placed in the preamble as an aknowledgement of the factors contributing to homelessness.

Clauses 2 and 3: I love a good institute/committee, but this one doesn’t seem to do much and is a bit vague. Collections info is fine and a good goal, but I think the information should put more to use. You could maybe add more specifics on how the IGH will assist nations to build housing. Is it researching cheap housing options, giving advice, donating funds, etc? It’s a good idea, I think it deserves some more fleshing out.

Clauses 4-8: Too soft for my taste. As they’re currently worded, these have no teeth to enforce any significant changes from nations. Say what you want to achieve with each of these clauses, and write them so that there’s no wiggle room outside of achieving your goal. At the moment, the most nations are compelled to do is plan. Force them into action!

Clause 9a: Similar issues to clauses 4-8. Also, the chronic health conditions part seems a bit tacked on. I’m assuming this is an attempt to directly tackle some of the causes/exacerbators of homelessness. I feel like you could expand this a bit more and make some specific actions to support people with chronic conditions. How are you planning to support them? Whatever it is, explicitly state that.

Clause 9b: You can phrase this as a mandate. State that nations guarantee that families don’t lose their housing, or mandate that they must provide alternative housing if it is lost.

Clause 9c: I’d prefer some more detail on how to improve the night shelters themselves. Many homeless people avoid them for fear of theft/assault etc. I feel like you should address this, as simply building shelters will not make them safe/desirable.

Finally, I feel like this proposal doesn’t do much to support those who choose to remain homeless. Some people, for many reasons, simply don’t want to live in shelters/government housing/hostels etc. They deserve support/protection too. I feel like some effort to reduce the adverse effects of being homeless would be a welcome addition to this proposal. At the moment it mainly focusses on reducing homelessness. I feel like it should also make life better for those who are. Especially as no matter how much you try, it’s almost impossible to end homelessness. This should be aknowledged, and we should make homelessness less harmful as well as reducing its prevalence.

[Xernon]

-snip-

I thank the ambassador from Xanthorrhoea for their excellent feedback and comments. Over the next couple of days, our delegation will be working on a second draft that will aim to address many of the points brought up by the ambassadors from Xanthorrhoea and Abacathea. I aim to release the second draft by Saturday and will post a notification to this thread when that is done.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Elsie Mortimer Wellesley. I would recommend the author to stay way from anything approaching rent control policies. They do not work and depress building of housing, affordable and otherwise.

[Xernon]

Honorable delegations,

I am happy to report that the 2nd draft of this resolution has been posted and can be found in the opening post. For those who may wish to see the original draft, it is found in the same post -- towards the bottom in a spoiler titled "Draft_1". In the second draft, which you see, I have sought to address all of the feedback provided to me to date. Inevitably, I may have missed a comment, but I believe I have addressed all major points. I am genuinely thankful for the great constructive feedback I have been given thus far.

Please continue to provide your feedback and know that our delegation will do all within its power to address your comments.

[Tinhampton]

Smith: How did you manage to write a second draft that's even worse than the first one? For starters, a big, unwieldy piece of WA should not be entitled to impose homelessness reduction targets for all the dozens of thousands of member states - I'm open to technical assistance in reducing homelessness but not something on this scale.
I also fail to see why Article 6's provisions should not apply to all those in need, homeless or not - although I appreciate that this is a proposal which focuses on homeless people and their needs.

[Xernon]

Smith: How did you manage to write a second draft that's even worse than the first one? For starters, a big, unwieldy piece of WA should not be entitled to impose homelessness reduction targets for all the dozens of thousands of member states - I'm open to technical assistance in reducing homelessness but not something on this scale.
I also fail to see why Article 6's provisions should not apply to all those in need, homeless or not - although I appreciate that this is a proposal which focuses on homeless people and their needs.

I thank the ambassador from Tinhampton for their nuanced take and I am sorry to hear that the second draft is not to their liking. To address the first point, most of the delegations that commented wanted to see two things: 1.) a stronger role for the IGH and 2.) accountability in terms of ensuring member nations' progress in tackling homelessness. The IGH's homelessness reduction milestones are incremental milestones, put out annually, that take into account the nation's economic direction. The IGH also provides significant support to member nations to meet these milestones.
With regards to the feedback on Article 6, indeed, given that this resolution is concerned with homelessness, I would rather that any protections that we provide focus on homeless populations. Having said that, I encourage any effort to expand accessibility to healthcare, food, and employment in separate legislation dealing with those topics.

[Goobergunchia]

I thank the ambassador from Tinhampton for their nuanced take and I am sorry to hear that the second draft is not to their liking. To address the first point, most of the delegations that commented wanted to see two things: 1.) a stronger role for the IGH and 2.) accountability in terms of ensuring member nations' progress in tackling homelessness. The IGH's homelessness reduction milestones are incremental milestones, put out annually, that take into account the nation's economic direction. The IGH also provides significant support to member nations to meet these milestones.

As currently written, we fear that there is no limiting factor on the Institute of Global Homelessness's homelessness reduction milestones. The Institute is only required to take into account member states' "resources and economic abilities". There is also no limitation on the financial penalties that can be imposed on nations for failing to meet these milestones. We have no objection to accepting clear mandates from the World Assembly but it would be irresponsible for us to support such an open-ended risk to the budget of the Moderately Liberal Unitary Republic.

[Lord] Michael Evif
Goobergunchian WA Ambassador

[Xernon]

Hi all,

My sincerest apologies for the lack of updates. Between school, work, and regional commitments, I had to take a step back from working on this last week. Having said that, I come to you today with draft #3 of the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. As you will first see, this version returns the Institute of Global Homelessness to an advisory institution. This time, however, the IGH is mandated with research and support services that will play a significant role in helping member nations tackle homelessness. Outside of this change, I have also added further mandates that establish protections and rights for homeless individuals as well as prevent homelessness.

I remain convinced that this is a subject of great importance, and I really want to see this resolution to come to fruition. The only way I can make that happen is with your constructive feedback. So please do let me know what you think. I value and work to address every comment.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Elsie Mortimer Wellesley takes a look at the draft and points to a few points with commentary.

Member nations are required to allow their inhabitants to report to the appropriate housing authorities a case of homelessness while collecting information regarding their current housing situation. Member nations must report this information to the IGH.

"What does this mean? Who are the "appropriate housing authorities"? While who is collecting information regarding what housing situation? What is the purpose of this clause?"

Member nations shall guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to access and use public spaces, including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation.

"People should not do not have the right to access and use the floor of parliament, a courthouse, a state temple, or the general staff headquarters. Refine your definitions, Ambassador."

Member nations shall further guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to apply for government documents and register for government services.

"This does not actually achieve this goal. If you need a postal address to receive documents (eg a benefits cheque), you have the right to apply and register... you simply are not able to actually get anything. I fear this is a recurring issue with many newer legislators in this chamber: they do a good talk and then write legislative text which does not actually achieve what they want."

Member nations shall enact laws that prohibit discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status.

"Housing status seems to me to refer to anything the status of housing, if lacking a definition thereof. If that is the case, would this clause not prohibit employers from denying an applicant if they live on the other side of the country and is incapable of appearing to the office?"

[*]Member nations must provide inhabitants experiencing homelessness with access to the following services:

1. Emergency and preventative healthcare.
2. Food assistance either directly via food vouchers or in collaboration with local food banks.
3. Vocational training and job finding assistance.

"Most of these are provided for in GA 344 'Minimum Standard of Living Act' and GA 97 'Quality in Health Services'."

[*] Members must allocate funds dedicated to assisting homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services.

"Okay, a member nation allocates exactly 1 shilling and sixpence. They are now in compliance. Ambassador, you must provide a standard for determining whether the allocation is sufficient."

Member nations must also establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing.

"Putting the problem of 'Here is a farthing, I am now in compliance', many poor nations are unable to intervene strongly in the building of housing stock or otherwise subsidise its construction. How should they react to this section?"

[*]Additionally, member nations must:

1. Implement, or advance the functioning of, permanent affordable housing accommodations and support for the disabled and individuals with chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness.
2. Create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness.
3. Ensure that homeless children have full and free access to education, including transportation to and from school.
4. Enact laws that work towards ensuring land and property owners are not at risk of losing their land or property arbitrarily and without cause.
5. Equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

[/list]

"A number of issues. First, why must it be permanent? Could not a local government knock through some alms houses and build better, newer, and expanded housing elsewhere? Or must it be permanently granted? Is it an inheritable entitlement? Or, even if it is not, might the recipient want to leave or move?"

"Some of the other clauses also are covered by previous resolutions. We have education policy. But the bar on land and property owners seems very strange. What cause would you want? Might their presence on the land be cause? A standard should be set for determining what causes are acceptable and damages paid out in cases where land is appropriated for, eg, public use."

[Xernon]

Elsie Mortimer Wellesley takes a look at the draft and points to a few points with commentary.

I thank Ambassador Wellesley for their thorough and comprehensive feedback. I appreciate the opportunity to learn as a new WA writer as well as the opportunity to improve this resolution.

"What does this mean? Who are the "appropriate housing authorities"? While who is collecting information regarding what housing situation? What is the purpose of this clause?"

This clause requires member nations to comply with the IGH's data collection mandate. Before you can address homelessness nationally or even globally, you need to have an understanding of the scope of the homelessness issue on the ground. This aside, another point of intent here is that homeless inhabitants shall have the ability to seek services at their nation's designated housing agencies. When they do so, member nations have a duty to not only account for the case of homelessness but to also note their specific living circumstances (where they are currently living, how they are currently sustaining themselves, etc.). I will update this clause to be more clear and in line with my intent.

"People should not do not have the right to access and use the floor of parliament, a courthouse, a state temple, or the general staff headquarters. Refine your definitions, Ambassador."

The idea here is that homeless individuals shall not be denied access to spaces that are generally designated for public use and access. I'll edit my wording slightly to better reflect that.

"This does not actually achieve this goal. If you need a postal address to receive documents (eg a benefits cheque), you have the right to apply and register... you simply are not able to actually get anything. I fear this is a recurring issue with many newer legislators in this chamber: they do a good talk and then write legislative text which does not actually achieve what they want."

I actually did consider this very point before publishing draft #3. I have a different version of this particular clause because I anticipated this comment: "Member nations shall further guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to register for and receive government documents and services." I'll incorporate this version of the clause.

"Housing status seems to me to refer to anything the status of housing, if lacking a definition thereof. If that is the case, would this clause not prohibit employers from denying an applicant if they live on the other side of the country and is incapable of appearing to the office?"

I do get what the honorable ambassador is saying; however, I will note that this clause doesn't stop employers from considering the geographic location of the application, it only stops them from basing employment-related decisions based on whether an individual has a stable housing situation or not. I'll work to clarify that further within the clause.

"Most of these are provided for in GA 344 'Minimum Standard of Living Act' and GA 97 'Quality in Health Services'."

I am indeed aware of GA 344 and GA 97. With regards to GA 344, I find this resolution to be rather loose in its mandates. While it requires member nations to make a concerted effort to guarantee a minimum standard of living, it ultimately leaves it up to public and private sectors to guarantee inhabitants "any combination" of the provisions that make up a minimum standard of living. Additionally, the resolution does not curtail the ability of future legislation to strengthen/further reinforce these provisions. With regards to GA 97, while I see that it is stated as an aim for member nations to achieve universal healthcare in a pre-ambulatory clause, I don't see it mandated in that resolution.

"Okay, a member nation allocates exactly 1 shilling and sixpence. They are now in compliance. Ambassador, you must provide a standard for determining whether the allocation is sufficient."

I have to be honest and admit that I have hit a wall when trying to think of a funding formula/criteria to keep member nations accountable here. Inspired by Sanctaria's wording in GAR#176, I may opt for the following: "Nations are required to create a system, or systems, of welfare to assist homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services." I'm happy to consider thoughts and suggestions on this.

"Putting the problem of 'Here is a farthing, I am now in compliance', many poor nations are unable to intervene strongly in the building of housing stock or otherwise subsidise its construction. How should they react to this section?"

Similar to the above, I will re-work this clause and add more provisions to address the concerns it would pose for poorer member nations.

"A number of issues. First, why must it be permanent? Could not a local government knock through some alms houses and build better, newer, and expanded housing elsewhere? Or must it be permanently granted? Is it an inheritable entitlement? Or, even if it is not, might the recipient want to leave or move?"

The intent here is permanently granted for use -- not a temporary accommodation that may force the individual back on the streets after a set period of time. This would not be an inheritable entitlement and inhabitants retain their rights to free movement. I'll clarify my wording so this is clearer.

"We have education policy..."

Fair enough, though I will say that the intent of my clause is to focus on facilitating access to education for homeless children. I'll be more specific and clear about what that should entail.

But the bar on land and property owners seems very strange. What cause would you want? Might their presence on the land be cause? A standard should be set for determining what causes are acceptable and damages paid out in cases where land is appropriated for, eg, public use."

The idea is that you cannot lose ownership of your property unless there is legal justification (e.g. foreclosure) for it. I'll clarify that and be more specific with my standards for what constitutes a legal cause.

---

I'll try to get all of the above updated and addressed within the next few hours and I'll post an update below once that is done.

[Xernon]

Hi all,

As promised, I have updated the opening post with the fourth draft of the Homelessness Mitigation and Protections Act. In this draft, I have attempted to address as much of the feedback provided to me by the highly esteemed ambassador from Imperium Anglorum. This has been a rather positive learning process for me thus far, and while I realize that more work remains to be done, when I compare the current draft to the initial one, I am rather amazed by what I have been able to accomplish with your help.

Needless to say, please keep your feedback coming. If you believe a clause is unclear, redundant, or not specific enough, do let me know, and I will do my best to tackle it.

[Araraukar]

IC: "At a quick glance," Linda said, after reading only the first clause, "this would seem to classify students living in dormitories as homeless people. And also anyone who is living in a temporary shelter, such as a caravaner, while waiting for their permanent home being made inhabitable again, whether due a natural catastrophe or need for generalized pest control or anything like that. One could also argue that long-term wards in hospitals or the facilities for elderly too frail to live independently, could count as "boarding houses". In fact, I'm not entirely certain that even hotels wouldn't, if you're paying for a room and food and basic amenities in one. Why do you want to classify tourists as homeless? Visiting another country for a vacation is not same as "choosing a nomadic lifestyle"."

OOC: The requirement for allowing everyone to all public spaces all the time would make it nigh-impossible to, say, enforce a quarantine, and I don't know many libraries that are open 24/7 (none of the public ones in Finland that I know of, anyway). I mean, heck, in most cities over here in-city public transport stops for the deepest night hours, so that's not 24/7 either. Also, not all places normally open to public are always safe for public. Exceptions to such rights should be made. (Also, if someone's drunken and disorderly, or a clear threat to other people, they should not have a right to gain access to other people and breakable public property (think like books and computers and furniture in the public libraries). Hygienic and health hazards (both ways!) should also restrict such rights. And unlike Linda, I tried combing through the draft with tired eyes, but could see no common sense restrictions. If I just missed them, please point them out?

[Xernon]

IC: "At a quick glance," Linda said, after reading only the first clause, "this would seem to classify students living in dormitories as homeless people. And also anyone who is living in a temporary shelter, such as a caravaner, while waiting for their permanent home being made inhabitable again, whether due a natural catastrophe or need for generalized pest control or anything like that. One could also argue that long-term wards in hospitals or the facilities for elderly too frail to live independently, could count as "boarding houses". In fact, I'm not entirely certain that even hotels wouldn't, if you're paying for a room and food and basic amenities in one. Why do you want to classify tourists as homeless? Visiting another country for a vacation is not same as "choosing a nomadic lifestyle"."

OOC: The requirement for allowing everyone to all public spaces all the time would make it nigh-impossible to, say, enforce a quarantine, and I don't know many libraries that are open 24/7 (none of the public ones in Finland that I know of, anyway). I mean, heck, in most cities over here in-city public transport stops for the deepest night hours, so that's not 24/7 either. Also, not all places normally open to public are always safe for public. Exceptions to such rights should be made. (Also, if someone's drunken and disorderly, or a clear threat to other people, they should not have a right to gain access to other people and breakable public property (think like books and computers and furniture in the public libraries). Hygienic and health hazards (both ways!) should also restrict such rights. And unlike Linda, I tried combing through the draft with tired eyes, but could see no common sense restrictions. If I just missed them, please point them out?

I thank Acting Ambassador Äyrämäki for their comments and feedback. With regards to my homelessness definition, I have removed the term "boarding house" from the definition as it is indeed rather confusing without a definition, and I think the term "temporary shelters" better captures my intent. With regards to your other notes about the definition, I'd argue that individuals that have lost their homes due to weather catastrophes or other crises are and should be considered homeless if they no longer have "reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities."
In terms of Clause #5, the lack of specificity is an error on my part. The intention here is not to allow usage of those spaces 24/7 unless those spaces are indeed open/functional 24/7. I shall seek to clarify that and also include a restrictions statement, as suggested, to ensure the protection and maintenance of public safety.

[Tinhampton]

Your draft is about 1,100 characters too long and you might want to get Unibot's permission before using your current Article 10... uhhhhhh. A Totally Not A Rewrite for your consideration:

The General Assembly,

Recognising that homelessness has a detrimental impact on economic, social, and cultural rights, and

Seeking to eradicate homelessness,

Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established. It shall:
   
   1. collect annual data from each member nation pertaining to the population of homeless inhabitants, measures taken by that member to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures,
   2. collaborate with members to establish annual homeless population reduction milestones (hereinafter "IGH milestones"), taking into account each member's resources and fiscal status,
   3. embark on educational and fundraising campaigns to raise awareness of the need for international efforts to eradicate homelessness,
   4. formulate homelessness prevention strategies based on the different types of homelessness and modifying them to meet the needs of member nations,
   5. research innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing, and
   6. employ volunteer-based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless inhabitants in low resource member nations.
3. Members must establish local housing agencies tasked with providing homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with housing resources and case management services.
4. Members shall additionally:
   
   1. guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to access spaces designated for public use (including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation) within their normal hours of operation, except where necessary to prevent access for inhabitants deemed to pose a clear risk to public safety as provided by law,
   2. guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to register for and receive government documents and services, and
   3. forbid discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status. (This excludes assessing an employee or candidate's geographic location when making employment-related decisions.)
5. Members must provide their homeless inhabitants with access to emergency and preventative healthcare, food, vocational training and job finding assistance.
6. Members shall endeavor to achieve their IGH milestones, and - in doing so - must:
   
   1. create a system, or systems, of welfare to assist homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services,
   2. establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing,
   3. implement or improve permanent housing accommodations and support for inhabitants with disabilities or chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness; such accommodations shall not be considered an inheritable entitlement, and their inhabitants retain their right to free movement,
   4. create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness,
   5. provide homeless children with the resources (including access to transportation) necessary to enable full and free access to education for them,
   6. enact laws that protect land and property owners from the loss of their land or property without legal justification (namely foreclosure or seizure due to criminal or civil misconduct as provided by law) or fair compensation, and
   7. equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
7. Any member state may request those funds needed to implement the above measures as best befit their needs from the WA General Accounting Office (GAO), save that the GAO reserves the right to refuse funding to any nation which does not intend to use such funds for the aforementioned purposes or otherwise has the resources necessary to implement them.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

[Xernon]

Your draft is about 1,100 characters too long and you might want to get Unibot's permission before using your current Article 10... uhhhhhh. A Totally Not A Rewrite for your consideration:

The General Assembly,

Recognising that homelessness has a detrimental impact on economic, social, and cultural rights, and

Seeking to eradicate homelessness,

Hereby enacts the following:

1. For the purposes of this resolution, 'homelessness" refers to the lack of reliable access to physical housing and consistent housing amenities. This includes living on the streets, in temporary shelters, or with friends and relatives intermittently, and excludes those independently pursuing nomadic life-styles.
2. The Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH) is established. It shall:
   
   1. collect annual data from each member nation pertaining to the population of homeless inhabitants, measures taken by that member to prevent homelessness, and the efficacy of those measures,
   2. collaborate with members to establish annual homeless population reduction milestones (hereinafter "IGH milestones"), taking into account each member's resources and fiscal status,
   3. embark on educational and fundraising campaigns to raise awareness of the need for international efforts to eradicate homelessness,
   4. formulate homelessness prevention strategies based on the different types of homelessness and modifying them to meet the needs of member nations,
   5. research innovative strategies in home construction, land use planning, and urban development to maximize affordable housing, and
   6. employ volunteer-based efforts to construct permanent housing for homeless inhabitants in low resource member nations.
3. Members must establish local housing agencies tasked with providing homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with housing resources and case management services.
4. Members shall additionally:
   
   1. guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to access spaces designated for public use (including public parks, sidewalks, libraries, and transportation) within their normal hours of operation, except where necessary to prevent access for inhabitants deemed to pose a clear risk to public safety as provided by law,
   2. guarantee all inhabitants, regardless of housing status, the right to register for and receive government documents and services, and
   3. forbid discrimination in employment and employment-related decisions based on housing status. (This excludes assessing an employee or candidate's geographic location when making employment-related decisions.)
5. Members must provide their homeless inhabitants with access to emergency and preventative healthcare, food, vocational training and job finding assistance.
6. Members shall endeavor to achieve their IGH milestones, and - in doing so - must:
   
   1. create a system, or systems, of welfare to assist homeless inhabitants or inhabitants at risk of homelessness with security deposits, rent and utility payments, and housing search services,
   2. establish nationally-based systems extending to local governments dedicated to the distribution of resources for the development of affordable housing,
   3. implement or improve permanent housing accommodations and support for inhabitants with disabilities or chronic health conditions whose health situation may put them at an increased risk of homelessness; such accommodations shall not be considered an inheritable entitlement, and their inhabitants retain their right to free movement,
   4. create a homelessness strategy that specifically targets youth populations experiencing child abuse, domestic violence, or parental substance use that may lead to youth homelessness,
   5. provide homeless children with the resources (including access to transportation) necessary to enable full and free access to education for them,
   6. enact laws that protect land and property owners from the loss of their land or property without legal justification (namely foreclosure or seizure due to criminal or civil misconduct as provided by law) or fair compensation, and
   7. equip night shelters, whose primary function is to eliminate the challenges attributed to health and diseases encountered by lack of sleep or sanitary places to sleep, with security cameras, bathrooms, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
7. Any member state may request those funds needed to implement the above measures as best befit their needs from the WA General Accounting Office (GAO), save that the GAO reserves the right to refuse funding to any nation which does not intend to use such funds for the aforementioned purposes or otherwise has the resources necessary to implement them.

Co-authored by Hulldom and Maowi.

I thank Ambassador Smith for taking the time to offer these revisions. I am indeed aware of the length of draft #4, and I realize that it is currently far too long. My focus over the past few weeks has been on strengthening the ideas of the proposal before addressing the wordiness. We are at the point where it is time for that to occur, and I will certainly consider the revisions you have kindly suggested.

I'll do my best to post a draft/version that meets the character count by tonight.

[Unibot III]

Don’t worry about permission about any language cobbled from anything from me, btw. Perfectly fine. Nothing is ever wholly original in the hallowed halls!

[Xernon]

Hi all, this notification is to let you know that I've pared down the text to just below 5,000 characters. To sum up the changes, I have removed a few preambulatory clauses. I've also eliminated a few words/phrases that were redundant in the previous draft. Aside from reducing some wordiness issues, the operative clauses are preserved. I'm happy to consider further cuts/reductions if you'd like to suggest them. I should note that I am not looking for a rewrite. I don't anticipate this being my only GA resolution and I already have a few drafts lined up for other ideas. Therefore, I am trying to learn as much as possible and take charge of the drafting process from beginning to end.

As always, I am very grateful for and appreciative of any/all constructive feedback.

[Bananaistan]

"Bananaistan opposes the provisions outlining the transfer of wealth from hard working socialists to feckless capitalists, and we urge the proposers to amend this. At what point is a nation "economically unable" to build houses? Is it before or after it refuses to adequately tax its own inhabitants or spends its money on frivolities like nuclear weapons?"

[Separatist Peoples]

"Bananaistan opposes the provisions outlining the transfer of wealth from hard working socialists to feckless capitalists, and we urge the proposers to amend this. At what point is a nation "economically unable" to build houses? Is it before or after it refuses to adequately tax its own inhabitants or spends its money on frivolities like nuclear weapons?"

"Are not nuclear weapons effective deterrents of foreign capitalist interventionism and warmongering?"