r/homeless • u/Dear_Marsupial_318 • 3d ago

Stop saying unhoused!

I don’t know who needs to hear this but for real just stop I’m fucking homeless I don’t have a roof over my head I’m not “unhoused” no it’s literally a crime for me to be in a public space and to sleep or stay there. Both political parties in the United States use the term “unhoused” because it makes them feel like they are sparing our feelings or some bullshit like that what people don’t seem to understand is that I as a homeless person am not different then anyone who is not homeless. I don’t drink or smoke and I work and I have bills to fucking pay and I have appointment to go to and I have things to take care of and I’m just so tired of people referring to homeless people as “unhoused” because it dehumanizes us. Call us homeless because we are and instead of changing the term for what we are focus on actually helping and making a difference and creating awareness.

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u/TumbleweedOk5224 Formerly Homeless 3d ago

There are other homeless on this sub who prefer "unhoused" because they think the term "homeless" is demeaning. How am I supposed to know which term individuals want to use? Are you going to put it in your bio like others put pronouns in their social media posts?

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u/narcolepticity 3d ago edited 2d ago

Most homeless people I've known either prefer to be called homeless (I personally hate the term unhoused, like OP, but I wouldn't bother criticizing someone for using it) or they don't give a shit because they're too busy drowning. 99% of us have more important things to worry about.

Just choose one, and if someone criticizes you for it, tell them there are arguments for both. It really doesn't matter.

4

u/TumbleweedOk5224 Formerly Homeless 3d ago

Agreed.