The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation visited Detroit from 18 to 20 October 2014 to learn about the impact of water disconnections on the living conditions of locals and on their human rights to water, sanitation and housing.
The Special Rapporteurs reported that there were disproportionate effects on vulnerable people and low income African American residents. Among other recommendations, they urged the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and the national government to adopt a mandatory affordability threshold and specific policies to ensure support to people living in poverty. Read the press release here.