civil rights

The Other Place works diligently to protect and further the rights of people experiencing homelessness by heightening awareness to the broad range impact of homelessness in our society.

Time is spent sharing and speaking with clients in shelter meetings, case management appointments, and through our consumer advisory panel, the Client Trustees. Clients are taught the skills needed to be their own best advocates through classes and focus groups dealing with appropriate communication, documentation, community resources and rights and responsibilities.

Participation in the National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project provides The Other Place the opportunity for national, statewide and regional discussion focusing on the civil rights of homeless persons. Housing is a human right! Please feel free to review some of the current published national reports below.

In May 2010, the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a bill to recognize heinous, violent acts committed against homeless people as hate crimes. With the recent violent beating of a homeless man by 4 young men in Cincinnati, legislation to protect the homeless from hate crimes is needed to work to deter such ugly acts from happening.

Locally, The Other Place collaborates with Legal Aid/ABLE and the University of Dayton Law Clinic in the provision of individual client consultation regarding a variety of legal issues and in reviewing broader scale issues affecting large numbers homeless people. The successful collaboration with the UD Law Clinic resulted in the publication of an informational “Know Your Rights” brochure which may also be viewed below.