Democrats in Congress have urged the Trump administration to present a plan for addressing issues like child poverty and the criminalisation of the poor in the wake of a scathing report from the UN’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty.

Some of the most prominent Democrats in Congress signed on to a letter to Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, urging her to relay the findings of the report to President Donald Trump.

“We believe the massive levels of deprivation outlined in the report as well as the immense suffering this deprivation causes are an affront to any notion of the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the senators wrote. “Given the breadth of poverty outlined in the report, these rights are simply illusory for millions in this country.”

The letter comes days after Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, released the findings from his 10-day tour of the US. Mr Alston met with everyone from federal government officials to people without homes on his trip through California, Alabama, Georgia, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, and Washington DC.

“The United States is one of the world’s richest and most powerful and technologically innovative countries;” he concluded in his report, “but neither its wealth nor its power nor its technology is being harnessed to address the situation in which 40 million people continue to live in poverty”.

Mr Alston will present his findings to the UN human rights council on 21 June.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

Many of the frontrunners for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 signed on to the Congressional letter, including Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris. On the House side, representatives such as Terri Sewell, Barbara Lee, and civil rights icon John Lewis signed on.

The legislators closed their letter with recommendations for how to address poverty and inequality in the US, including the elimination of bail bonds and the recognition that taxes are “not only in [our] interest, but also perfectly reconcilable with a growth agenda”.

They also demanded the recognition of health care as a human right, and urged the Trump administration to address inadequate access to things like banking services, clean water and sewage services, and internet and transportation access in rural communities.

The legislators closed by asking the administration to present Congress with a plan to fix the “appalling” rate of child poverty, destructive economic policies, and lack of access to basic necessities in underserved communities outlined in the report.