Ten Plagues of Housing Injustice
We invite you to dip your finger in wine, or your preferred beverage, while reciting these modern plagues. We place a drop on our plates for each one to acknowledge that the joy of liberation cannot be completed while many continue to be oppressed.
Unclean Water- Lack of access to clean water among individuals experiencing houselessness increases their exposure to disease.
Unsafe Living Conditions- Limited affordable housing and the struggle for fair housing rights lead to widespread housing insecurity.
Spread of COVID-19- Those living in under-resourced shelters face difficulty social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Domestic Violence- Victims of domestic violence have to leave unsafe situations swiftly, resulting in housing insecurity. More than 90% of unhoused mothers report sexual assault over their lifetimes.
Food Insecurity- Individuals often become food insecure ahead of becoming unhoused, as many must make decisions between paying housing-related costs or groceries.
Health & Sanitation Costs- Cost barriers make vital wellness necessities, from medication to menstrual products, inaccessible to unhoused people.
Natural Disasters- Climate change continues to threaten the safety of many regions and disproportionately impacts communities of color and working class communities.
Economic Disparities- Those struggling financially often lack access to stable housing, which decreases opportunities for stable employment.
Homophobia- LGBTQ+ unhoused youth represent 40% of the unhoused youth population, and as many as 60% are likely to attempt suicide.
Shortened Life Expectancy- Due to often traumatizing experiences, life expectancy for people experiencing houselessness is almost 20 years lower than that of housed populations.
דָ ּם • צְפַרְדֵע • כִּנִּים • עָרֹוב • דֶבֶר • שְׁחִין בָּרָד • ארְבֶּה • ח ֹשֶׁך • מַכַּת בְּכֹורֹות
dam • tzfardeiya • kinim • arov • dever • sh’chin barad • arbeh • choshech • makat b’chorot
Blood • Frogs • Lice • Beasts • Cattle Disease • Boils Hail • Locusts • Darkness • Death of the Firstborn
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