Policy Statements

The Council’s 2011 Policy Statements describe the positions of our membership constituencies, which represent providers of homeless health care and their clients throughout the nation. These nine statements explain our rationale for a variety of proposed policy changes that would address the systemic causes of homelessness in America and break the cycle of poverty, lack of housing, and poor health. As Congress enacts major reforms of the health care system, it is critical that the new law ensures access to appropriate and high quality health care for individuals experiencing homelessness, who are the poorest of our neighbors and among the most vulnerable. This collection of policy statements reflects the values and principles of the Council, upon which we believe federal public policies should be based:

The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, Article 25 (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.

These annual Policy Statements are developed through the consensus processes of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a membership organization involving homeless and formerly homeless people, individuals and agencies that provide health care to poor and homeless persons, and advocates for human rights.