Incorporating human rights into legal advocacy: Eric Tars, National Homelessness Law Center Legal Director, presents CLE sponsored by Villanova School of Law & LASP

(Aug. 30, 2023)

Eric Tars discusses housing as a human right, and how the National Homelessness Law Center has incorporated international human rights into legal advocacy to fight the criminalization of homelessness across the United States.

VILLANOVA - Eric Tars, the National Homelessness Law Center’s Legal Director, presented a hybrid CLE, "Human Rights & the U.S. Attorney 101: Practical Skills for Using International Human Rights in Domestic Advocacy," at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law on Aug. 29, 2023.

Professor Stephanie Sena, Anti-Poverty Fellow at Villanova Law, introduced Eric and welcomed attorneys and students.

Tars discussed housing as a human rights issue. He outlined how the NHLC has utilized international human rights as part of a long-term strategy to fight the criminalization of homelessness in the United States. "Homeless people are sleeping safer tonight because of this work that we did at the international level, at the federal level and brought it down to the local level," he said. "It changed the baseline of the conversation at the federal level on criminalization, where now human rights are part of the conversation."

Eric discussed the impact of Martin v. Boise in the 9th Circuit and other precedent-setting cases. He one of the attorneys of record on Martin v. Boise.

The event was co-sponsored by LASP and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s Initiative to End Poverty and Inequality.

From left: Jennifer Pierce, LASP Pro Bono Director; Carolyn Johnson, LASP Chief Counsel; Professor Stephanie Sena, Anti-Poverty Fellow at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law; Eric Tars, Legal Director, National Homelessness Law Center; and Charles Burrows, LASP Staff Attorney.

Eric Tars, National Homelessness Law Center Legal Director, at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law on Aug. 29, 2023.

Eric Tars, Legal Director of the National Homelessness Law Center, at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law on Aug. 29, 2023.

Professor Stephanie Sena, Anti-Poverty Fellow at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, introduced Eric Tars and welcomed attorneys and students on Aug. 29, 2023.