HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION: IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH BY REALISING HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

[ There are clear casual and consequential links between homelessness, poverty, discrimination and poor health. This article argues that the engagement of homelessness and health in a human rights framework enables effective identification of socio-economic determinants of ill health and creation of the enabling conditions necessary for good health. The article contends that the integration of human rights principles into health service development, implementation and delivery, focuses attention on the need for health services to be adequate, accessible, non-discriminatory and appropriately targeted. The article also contends that a human rights approach to homelessness, poverty and health also imposes obligations - and enables measurement - in relation to realisation of the right to health and interconnected human rights (including the right to adequate housing, the right to social security, the right to non-discrimination, the right to participation, and the right to human dignity and respect) ]