homelessness
- Noun:
- The state or condition of having no home: The primary meaning refers to the situation of lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This often implies living in shelters, temporary accommodations, or public spaces.
- The state of living in the streets: A more specific sense, highlighting the most visible form of homelessness where individuals reside in places not meant for human habitation, such as sidewalks, parks, or vehicles.
- Noun:
- The city council is discussing new policies to address the growing problem of homelessness.
- After losing his job, he faced the threat of homelessness for several months.
- Charities work to provide food and support for people experiencing homelessness.
"Chronic homelessness": Refers to long-term or repeated bouts of homelessness, often experienced by individuals with complex challenges like disability or substance use disorders.
- The program focuses on providing permanent supportive housing for individuals suffering from chronic homelessness.
"Hidden homelessness": Describes situations where people lack a home of their own but live temporarily with others (e.g., "couch surfing") or in overcrowded conditions, and are thus not visibly on the streets.
- The statistics on youth homelessness often fail to capture the scale of hidden homelessness.
Homeless (adj): Having no home.
- They provided warm meals for the homeless population.
Home (n): The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household. (This is the root word from which "homelessness" is derived).
- Destitution: The state of being extremely poor and lacking basic necessities, which can include lacking a home.
- Displacement: The state of being forced to leave one's home, which can lead to homelessness.
"At risk of homelessness": In a situation where someone is likely to become homeless if circumstances do not change.
- Families struggling to pay rent are at high risk of homelessness.
"End homelessness": A common phrase used in policy and advocacy aiming to eliminate the condition.
- The coalition's goal is to end veteran homelessness in our community.
- "Without a roof over one's head": An idiom meaning to be homeless.
- The flood left hundreds of families without a roof over their heads.
- the state or condition of having no home (especially the state of living in the streets)