CALGARY – The Homeless Charter of Rights (The Homeless Charter) project, the first of its kind in Canada, was launched Thursday at an outdoor event on the River Walk in the East Village.
With funding through the Alberta Human Rights Education and Multicultural Fund, the project aims to end discrimination against the homeless. Its focus is to unify the community as well as bring awareness to discriminatory experiences many homeless individuals face.
Described more as a social movement, this project helps those experiencing homelessness with identifying their rights within health, justice, and housing services.
A partnership between the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), the CHF Client Action Committee (CAC), and the Alberta Human Rights Commission is what created the vision for the charter.
“Understanding rights is integral to individuals being able to identify and address discriminatory practices that undermine their ability to access services and move beyond homelessness,” said Diana Krecsy, President and CEO of CHF in a news release.
The Homeless Charter will now be located at SORCe (The Safe Communities Opportunity and Resource Centre), a place where people can access resources unique to their personal and current situations. Individuals in need have access to SORCe representatives who are able to connect them with the proper services and supports.
Frank Cattoni, executive director of SORCe, is proud they will be displaying the charter, saying, “This charter will help our clients understand they are not invisible and that they too have the right to health care, housing and justice.”
Read the full Homeless Charter here.
To learn more about CHF, click here.
To learn more about the Alberta Human Rights Commission, click here.
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