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Housing is a Human Right


Everyone should possess the right to own a home wherever one wants, regardless of cultural or racial factors.  It is also the government’s obligation to ensure that everyone has access to basic human needs.  Housing must be a basic human right.  Everyone should at least be able to have an affordable place to live, where they have access to food, clothing, and medical care.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to a standard of living for the health and well being of himself and his family.” 

When I was younger, my family went often drive us to Ann Arbor to see our grandparents.  On the way, we drove through Detroit and I would see lots of people in the streets without proper clothing for the season and with signs that indicated they were homeless and without food/money.  Now, once I have grown up more and became more educated on the matter that every person truly has the human right to obtain a home, regardless of their situation.  I have also learned that people do not choose homelessness. It is not something that you wake up thinking, “I want to be homeless one day”.  It is caused by our uneven society, and more specifically, the more “dominant race.”  Those in poorer, less fortunate areas are living in insufficient housing with overcrowding, no privacy, or personal space.  As evidence of the apartment's overcrowding, Travis sleeps on "a make-down bed at center" (Hansberry 24).

 The government needs to address that there is a significant wealth gap because of lack of affordable housing to citizens.  The government should start focusing on this problem, preventing it, and federal/state action must be used to ensure that everyone has a right to a home.     

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