Advice to Government: Submission to the Private Member’s Bill on Homelessness Prevention

NICCY welcomes the opportunity to submit advice to the development of the ‘Homelessness Prevention’ Private Members Bill.

There are a number of UNCRC Articles that apply to the main aims of the Bill to which are being consulted on – tackling the root causes of our housing crisis, including unaffordability, insecurity of tenure, poor housing conditions, empty homes and homelessness.

Article 27 holds that States Parties recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. The parent(s) or others responsible for the child have the primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities and financial capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s development. States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing

 Article 16 holds that no child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation.

Article 18 states that for the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting the rights set forth in the present Convention, States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children.

 Through Article 22, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that a child who is seeking refugee status or who is considered a refugee in accordance with applicable international or domestic law and procedures shall, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by his or her parents or by any other person, receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance in the enjoyment of applicable rights set forth in the present Convention and in other international human rights or humanitarian instruments to which the said States are Parties.

The full response can be downloaded at the right-hand side of this page.

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