Amendment to the Consitution: Right to Housing or Shelter

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-08-05 12:06pm

Ok, I know next to nothing about this movement but I saw their posters and leaflets plastered around midtown yesterday. Seems there's a movement to push for a housing amendment. The amendment would generally state that Americans had the right to housing or shelter and if they could not afford it, the government would provide such housing to those who need it.

While the sentiment is nice its an absolute fantasy. I've seen what state controlled housing is like first hand from the projects uptown and in the poorest areas of the city.

If you thought the ghettos were bad this would only make things far worse. Aside from the economic impossibility of actually creating housing for everyone.

Thought I'd share this.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-08-05 12:58pm

the thing about housing projects is that they were beautiful when they were built. People just don't bother keeping them up because they are uneducated, unmotivated and they don't give a shit because it's not theirs.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-08-05 12:59pm

Canada's Charter of Rights does not have such a provision AFAIK, yet we do consider it a government obligation. It's not necessary to enshrine everything as a "right".

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-08-05 01:03pm

it's a good idea in theory, though i feel it could use some form of regulations aside from simply giving away free housing. for example, they should be expected to maintain a certain level of upkeep in their homes/apartments, and in exchange for the apartment they should be actively looking for work with the intention of finding steady work in a certain amount of time. then they can either be moved out of government provided housing or pay for a lower cost, but higher quality government approved housing depending on the income range of the job they get.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-08-05 01:11pm

It will never work. There's too many deadbeats that just don't wanna work.

That's why there's 4th Generation Welfare children.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-08-05 01:18pm

Isn't there an official "Human right to shelter"?

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-08-05 01:31pm

LadyTevar wrote:It will never work. There's too many deadbeats that just don't wanna work.

That's why there's 4th Generation Welfare children.

You're kidding me. Those exist?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-08-05 01:43pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:It will never work. There's too many deadbeats that just don't wanna work.

That's why there's 4th Generation Welfare children.
You're kidding me. Those exist?

Oh yeah, they definitely exist. There are plenty of people that have gotten on the government assitance lifestyle and passed it down since the New Deal. I dare say that in terms of actually familial generations there are some that are fifth and sixth generation recipients.

The big problem with government assistance is that under most of it's there's no requirement at all to get off it or at least try. As we've seen with so many of these well meaning programs people get on it and they stay there for life.
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I think the idea of trying to provide housing for everyone is a nice idea in principle. The idea of making sure everyone has the essentials of life is a nice idea in principle and it's something very easy to embrace in principle.

However in practice we've seen the results and it has every time turned into 'the projects.' The problem with the system is these are people that simply stop contributing, if they ever did, and become a parasite class that can't even take care of the little they're given. We don't need to try again with another round of ghettos since it's been proven by the recpients themselves that it'll do no good. Take away their reason to work and most will be content to be parasites.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-08-05 05:38pm

I can see government fulfilling a social responsibility to provide adequate housing for the poor, but the idea of amending the constitution to guarantee it as a right in the same sense as a political right is sheer nonsense.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-08-05 05:51pm

I hate calling things like health care, housing, food, etc. RIGHTS. Rights are inherent and free--as in, I have a right to say whatever I wish, but I'm not entitled to print pamphlets or run TV commericals for free. I do think, however, that wealthy societies do have a moral obligation to help the less fortunate. It doesn't have to be government provided--I'd be perfectly satisfied if private charity provided the entire safety net, if it was actually capable of doing that.

By the way, if you want to get all the homeless off the street, be prepared to start locking up the mentally ill in psych wards against their will again, as well as drug addicts and alcoholics.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-08-05 10:25pm

This is simply not a workable idea. Where would the gov't get the housing from? Building it from scratch? Emminent domain existing housing and force owners to become landlords against their will? What about regional differences in income? You can make 100K / year here and not be able to afford a single family home.

How do you define housing? Is a 1 bedroom 800 sq ft condo acceptable housing for a family of 4? What about 2 ? What about 1 ? If I move out at the age of 18 with no skills and no education beyond HS do I qualify for a place?

I can see setting up a national health care system, but these housing folks just don't get it.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-08-05 10:35pm

We have that here. It's called the "housing commission". In theory it's a decent idea.

Having visited these places a few times, it's a complete shithole. The kind of stuff that Gandhi and Jesus would avoid. The pathways have mirrors on the corners so you can see around them. Pot can be smelled at all hours of the day. People no older than 10 try to bum cigarettes from me.

These places do little else but encourage people to be on the dole. "Why go to school when I can get on the dole?" Is one sentence I've heard a bit.

On the other hand, there are people with legitimate needs for this. People with 1-2 jobs who just can't pull enough together to get a house. This is obviously good for them, but these places get clogged with deadbeats.