Shelters for the Urban Homeless
A Handbook for Administrators and Policymakers
Urban homeless people help sustain our cities through their labour, yet many live without shelter or social protection. Their courage, resilience and resourcefulness often go unrecognised. By treating them as outsiders rather than legitimate urban residents, society denies a large and vulnerable population recognition, rights and support. Urgent changes are needed in both public attitudes and development policy.
ActionAid Association has worked on urban homelessness for decades, advocating for the rights and dignity of people living on the streets. This longstanding engagement has supported efforts to bring the rights and needs of urban homeless people into public policy and action. As part of this engagement, Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director of ActionAid Association, was invited to serve as National Advisor to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court in the Right to Food case.
The case began in April 2001, when the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, filed Writ Petition (Civil) No. 196 of 2001. It argued that the right to food was essential to the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Supreme Court appointed Commissioners through an interim order, empowering them to investigate violations of its interim orders and seek redress. The Court subsequently recognised the right to “dignified shelters” as part of the right to life.
The Commissioners published Shelters for the Urban Homeless: A Handbook for Administrators and Policymakers to help government officials establish and manage shelters. The handbook provides detailed guidance aligned with the Supreme Court’s expectations and the Government of India’s Shelters for Urban Homeless scheme. It presents shelters as a first step towards greater security and dignity—a foundation from which people can sustain their livelihoods and move towards permanent housing.
