HOMELESSNESS
WORLD

Although the definition of homelessness varies around the world, the United Nations defines homelessness as “those households without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters due to a lack of or a steady income. They carry their few possessions with them, sleeping in the streets, in doorways or on piers, or in another space, on a more or less random basis” (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs). The United Nations General Assembly states that everyone has the right to a standard of living that includes food, clothing, housing, security, and medical care if they are incapable of providing for themselves due to events out of their control (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25).