Pope lists tragedies of children in war and trafficking at a rights summit

Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis convened a high-level summit Monday to demand that children be protected from war, forced labour, trafficking and exploitation, throwing his moral authority behind a global initiative to uphold children’s fundamental rights despite the Catholic Church’s own poor record in protecting them from sexual abuse. Queen Rania of Jordan opened the […]
Homelessness: As cities crack down, LA offers them a hotel room

DANIEL TROTTA, of Reuters, reports on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ signature Inside Safe program…
Pope asks church of Rome to help address housing crisis ahead of Holy Year in 2025

Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis on Friday called on the diocese of Rome to respond to a growing housing crisis in the Eternal City, wading into the debate about rising rental prices that has only grown more acute with Holy Year celebrations in 2025. Francis has written to the city’s church leaders and religious order […]
Housing crisis in Spain’s cities drives rise in homelessness as tourism booms

Madrid, Spain Reuters Francisco Carrillo sobbed with relief as he lay on the bed in his new apartment in Madrid provided by a charity after three years of sleeping rough in the backroom of a theatre. The 62-year-old pensioner found he couldn’t afford rental prices in the capital when he moved from Jaen in southern […]
Thousands of faith leaders, union members, activists rally for poor in the US

Washington DC, US RNS Thousands of clergy, union members and activists rallied on behalf of the poor near the US Capitol on Saturday, with faith leaders calling for lawmakers to embrace a slate of policies and for low-wealth Americans to make their voices heard in November as the nation’s “largest potential swing vote.” Rev William […]
Winter deepens misery for Argentina’s poor following Milei’s financial cuts

Buenos Aires, Argentina Reuters Homelessness is on the rise across major Argentine cities as the new libertarian government’s tough medicine reforms squeeze pensions, state salaries and push up rental prices, forcing more people into poverty. The latest survey by local authorities showed the official number of Argentines sleeping rough on the streets of Buenos Aires […]
Essay: Do homeless people have constitutional rights?

In an article first published on Religion News Service, author KEVIN NYE says that overwhelmingly, faith groups who filed briefs in the US Supreme Court case Johnson v Grants Pass did so against criminalising homelessness…
Arizona county faces ‘homelessness on steroids’ as migrant shelter funds run out

Washington DC/Tucson, Arizona Reuters An Arizona migrant shelter that has housed thousands of asylum seekers plans to halt most operations in two weeks when funding from Washington runs out, a problem for towns along the border where officials fear a surge in homelessness and extra costs. Arizona’s Pima County, which borders Mexico, has said that […]
Addressing need: In the US city of Chicago, pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants

“There’s already plenty of need present in this community,” said one faith leader. The challenge is to make the situation work for both longtime residents and migrants arriving from the border. REBEKAH BARBER, of Religion News Service, reports…
Homelessness rates in England hit five-year high

London, UK Reuters The number of families and individuals facing homelessness in England is at its highest since 2018, data showed on Tuesday, sparking calls for the government to reform renting laws faster and build more affordable housing. Britain is in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, with high rates of inflation leaving people struggling […]