A priority of the UI is to support and promote the work of SCU faculty, staff and students related to the homelessness crisis. This summer, two Hackworth Fellows at SCU’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics published articles related to the unhoused.
Chisomaga Nlemigbo, SCU ’25, focused his article on indigenous homelessness, ethics and tribal law. Through a comparison of indigenous and non-indigenous court cases, Chisomaga examines the unique experience of being unhoused and indigenous, and how the intersection of colonization and the indigenous meaning of “home” further impact this experience. As he describes, indigenous courts apply concepts of “home” as more than a commodity – it is a place for learning, spiritual grounding and community connection. Chisomaga writes:
“When looking at cases from Indigenous American tribes and nations, a clear regard for the person as a valid and important part of the community is expressed. Indigenous responses take the time to acknowledge the inherent dignity of individuals regardless of their position in society. This is seen most prominently through active governments that consistently seek restorative forms of justice, strive for fairness, build community, and consider the special circumstances of situations. Conversely, cases from the non-Indigenous American legal system reflect the individualistic ideals that are emphasized in its society.”
Chisomaga’s full article is available on the Markkula Center’s website.
In her paper, SCU ’24 grad, Kinsey Hall, notes the recent US Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson which allows cities to criminalize sleeping outside, asking: Even if legally we may criminalize the unhoused, should we do so as a matter of ethics? Noting “that there are a multitude of moral options and a great deal of moral complexity involved in thinking about criminal policy regarding homelessness,” Kinsey applies various ethical frameworks to responses to the homelessness crisis; including, examining San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s “safe sleeping” sites. She advocates for a “return to moral thinking” in the creation and application of policies impacting our unhoused neighbors.
You can read the full article on the Markkula Center’s website.
The Unhoused Initiative at SCU 