S. Homelessness Law and Policy

How did modern day homelessness develop and grow in the United States, how has legal advocacy shaped responses to it, and how can lawyers use their skills to help address this urgent social problem? This seminar explores the contours and causes of homelessness nationally, including a specific focus on New York City, from its initial emergence in the early 1980s to the present. Issues we will discuss include the increasing criminalization of homelessness, the human right to housing, the rights of children and youth, and the right to counsel in eviction court. We will consider a range of legal and advocacy strategies to address homelessness, including litigation, legislative, regulatory and human rights strategies, and movement lawyering. Class readings--which include cases, legislative materials, law review articles, social science studies, and research reports--will be supplemented by real-world experiences, such as a visit to housing court and/or participation in a feeding program. The class is discussion-based, and active participation, including engaging in current legal and policy debates, is required.