PRIA Logo™
119-hres-1249119th CongressWALLET

Unhoused Persons Bill of Rights

Sponsored By: Representative Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

Introduced

Summary

End the unhoused crisis by 2029 through a federal Bill of Rights for people without stable housing and large new funding and program priorities to expand housing, services, and legal protections. This bill lists 19 specific rights and makes major funding and administrative changes to prioritize housing-first, nonpunitive responses.

Show full summary
  • Families and children gain stronger support for stability and nutrition. The bill directs universal K–12 school meals, expands SNAP, TANF, and WIC eligibility, and backs McKinney-Vento education supports for homeless youth.
  • Unhoused individuals receive an explicit set of civil and human rights. Protections cover housing, health care, sanitation, ID access, privacy, and protections from harassment, plus civil remedies and fee shifting for successful plaintiffs. The bill also calls for universal Section 8 vouchers and HUD policies to eliminate homelessness by 2029 and reallocates at least $168 billion from defense.
  • Local governments, shelters, and community groups get funding and operational mandates. It funds public restrooms and sanitation, prioritizes grassroots organizations led by impacted people, and creates recurring housing funds including $42.4 billion annually for the National Housing Trust Fund and $3.2 billion annually for emergency rental assistance.

*Projects large new federal spending, including a reprogramming of at least $168 billion from defense and recurring billions for housing programs, increasing federal outlays over coming years.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More help in SNAP, TANF, WIC

If adopted, the resolution would urge big expansions to SNAP, TANF, and WIC. It would call for higher income limits, longer time limits, and removal of purchase restrictions on hot and ready-to-eat foods for SNAP users. These changes would lower food costs for eligible low-income households.

Rights for People Without Homes

If adopted, the resolution would recognize a broad Bill of Rights for people without homes. It would call for rights to housing, shelter, livable wages and lawful self-employment. It would also call for access to health care, sanitation, identification, voting, education for homeless children, and nondiscrimination in public services and spaces.

Large federal funding to end homelessness

If adopted, the resolution would urge very large, sustained federal funding to prevent and end homelessness. It would call for at least $168 billion reprogrammed from defense, $148.4 billion every five years for public housing capital, $42.4 billion each year for the National Housing Trust Fund, and $3.18 billion each year for a permanent emergency rental assistance program. It would also push full operating fund support for public housing and money for local restrooms, showers, and trash services.

Free school meals for all K-12

If adopted, the resolution would urge funding to make school meals free for all K–12 students. Families would not pay per meal. This would help low-income households and students get reliable nutrition at school.

Legal protections for unhoused people

If adopted, the resolution would urge stronger enforcement and civil remedies to protect unhoused people. It would say courts could award damages and all attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs and be lenient about records for unhoused claimants. It would also push rules against abusive police practices, private discrimination, and protect volunteers and groups that give food or services.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation