Social Services Terminology

noun a harmful or damaging action or effect, especially when done with the intention of helping or benefiting someone

• Providing inaccurate information to customers would be a disservice to them.
• Not telling your friend the truth would do them a disservice.
• Spreading rumors about someone is a major disservice.
• Choosing to ignore the warning signs would ultimately prove to be a disservice to yourself.

noun a lodging house providing rooms for rent, especially to people on a temporary basis

• The city council passed a new ordinance regulating the operation of rooming houses in residential neighborhoods.
• I heard that the old Victorian house on Maple Street is being turned into a rooming house for college students.
• I can't believe how cheap the rent is at that rooming house down the street.
• His mind was like a crowded rooming house, filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

noun a person who is unwell or suffering from an illness or disease

• The doctor is attending to a sick person in the emergency room.
• I heard there's a sick person in the hospital.
• Yo, there's a sick person at the clinic, man.
• She's like a sick person, always needing attention and care.

noun SRO can also be used as an abbreviation for Standing Room Only, which describes an event or venue where all seats are taken, and only standing room is available.

• The city council approved funding for a new SRO building to address the housing shortage.
• I heard they're converting that old hotel into SROs for low-income residents.
• I can't believe how expensive those SROs are in the downtown area.
• She felt like she was living in an SRO with all the noise and chaos in her small apartment.

noun the act of choosing or taking on something as one's own

• The number of adoptions in the country has been steadily increasing over the years.
• Have you heard about the Smiths' recent adoption of a baby girl?
• I heard they're planning to do a pet adoption event at the shelter next weekend.
• The adoption of new technology in the workplace has greatly improved efficiency.