During Monday’s meeting, the Ann Arbor City Council approved a resolution establishing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness. The resolution outlines the right to use public spaces, ask for disability accommodations, keep personal information private, register to vote and receive emergency medical care. It also reaffirms the right to fair treatment by city employees and fair employment opportunities.
Jonathan Laye, director of Ann Arbor’s Supportive Connections program, said the resolution will help the unhoused maintain their right to exist in the city.
“It reinforces that enforcement should be based on conduct, applied fairly and consistently, and never based solely on someone’s housing status,” Laye said. “This resolution will not create any additional shelter beds tomorrow (or) immediately expand affordable housing. … (But) it affirms that we can maintain public safety without criminalizing homelessness.”…