Housing, homelessness and human rights: advocating a rights-based response to a systemic problem
Housing, homelessness and human rights: advocating a rights-based response to a systemic problem
Date
2020
Authors
Temple, Méabh
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Abstract
Homelessness is one of the most visible human rights deprivations of our time. Yet, it does not
provoke the same horror and outrage of other crises of similar magnitude. The complacency
surrounding homelessness is alarming, and has allowed for the problem to worsen as states
continually are not held to account for their role in enabling the structures which create homelessness.
With a view to strengthening state accountability, this thesis will examine the twin phenomena of
commodification and financialisation. It will explore the influence these processes may have on
approaches to housing, arguing that they are largely responsible for state policies which are
incompatible with the demands of economic, social and cultural rights. It will do this through a case
study of the situations of Ireland and Finland, two states which in recent years have taken opposing
approaches to addressing homelessness. This thesis will argue that a human rights approach to
homelessness necessitates stronger identification of points at which a state is not in accordance with
its obligations under human rights law. It will make the case that homelessness is a human rights
violation, and that state culpability for the creation and perpetuation of homelessness can, and must,
be identified.
Description
Second semester University: Åbo Akademi University
Keywords
housing,
homelessness,
economic social and cultural rights,
Ireland,
Finland,
human rights,
state responsibility