Homelessness Terminology

adjective having no money, no job, and no place to live; destitute

• The charity organization provides assistance to the down-and-out individuals in the community.
• I heard that Tom used to be down-and-out but he's doing much better now.
• Those down-and-out folks really need a helping hand to get back on their feet.
• After facing multiple setbacks, she felt like a down-and-out boxer ready to throw in the towel.

noun A homeless person, typically one who travels from place to place in search of work or opportunities.

• The hobo wandered the streets looking for a warm place to sleep.
• I saw a hobo digging through the trash for food.
• That hobo is always hopping trains to get around.
• In the world of finance, a hobo is someone who is reckless with their money.

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

• The children were raised in a sheltered environment, away from the dangers of the city.
• She's a bit sheltered, she doesn't know much about the real world.
• He's so sheltered, he's never even been to a party.
• His sheltered upbringing left him unprepared for the harsh realities of life.

noun a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a high concentration of poverty and social problems

• The city council is working to address the issues facing the residents of skid row.
• I heard there's a new shelter opening up on skid row.
• Don't go wandering around skid row at night, it can be dangerous.
• After losing his job, he felt like he had hit rock bottom and was living on skid row.

adjective describing a person or place that is not protected or covered from the elements

adverb used to modify a verb, adjective, or other adverb to indicate time, manner, degree, or cause

• The unsheltered population in the city has been increasing steadily over the past few years.
• It's heartbreaking to see so many unsheltered individuals living on the streets.
• Those unsheltered folks really need our help to get back on their feet.
• Her emotions were left unsheltered, exposed for all to see.

noun a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place

adjective having no settled home or regular work

• The city council passed a law to address the issue of vagrants sleeping in public parks.
• I saw a vagrant asking for change on the street corner.
• That vagrant is always hanging around the bus station.
• His thoughts wandered like a vagrant through the streets of his mind.

adjective describing someone who does not have a house or home

• The city council is working on providing more resources for the houseless population.
• It's heartbreaking to see so many houseless individuals living on the streets.
• Some people call them 'homeless', but I prefer to use 'houseless'.
• In a society obsessed with material possessions, some people feel spiritually houseless.