What Does It Mean To Be Homeless?

Homelessness. Though this is a word that is familiar to the vast majority of us, have you ever truly taken a second to think about what the word really means?

As is defined by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness,

“Homelessness describes the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it. It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, unhealthy, unsafe, stressful and distressing”.

Yet, despite this definition, throughout numerous conversations I’ve had with others or have simply overheard, I have heard so many stereotypes attached to this one word.

Some people like to associate homelessness with words like “low life”, “druggie”, or “menace to society”.

Personally, I don’t believe those stereotypes accurately represent homelessness at all. Surely, addictions may form as a result of homelessness, and being in a state of homelessness presents numerous new stressors that could cause oneself to act in different ways, but this does not make individuals facing homelessness bad people. I’m sick of the word homelessness being associated with negative stereotypes. It’s about time we take the necessary time to reflect on the true meaning of the word.

The reality is, no one wants to become homeless.

No one wants to live a life of instability, and lack some of their basic human needs.

No one wants to be put in a label that causes society to marginalize them.

No one wants to live like that.

But the reality is, due to numerous circumstances, numerous people find themselves homeless. Sometimes for certain people, becoming homeless is their way out of an abusive setting. For certain people, becoming homeless is their way out. Who are we to judge people in a negative light for that?

Conclusively, the word homelessness is representative of struggles one faces. It is representative of the struggle to find a permanent, and safe place to live. It is the struggle of finding a place to lay your head at night. It is representative of the struggle of finding a place to call home. It represents struggles that one faces, and homelessness may only be the first of many struggles an individual will face.

That’s what it represents.

It doesn’t represent a bad person, or bad people. It represents the struggles one is facing.

So all I ask of you is for you to take a second, sit down, and think about what the word homelessness means to you. I ask that you start conversations with friends and family members. I ask that you look at different perspectives and take the time to look into them further for education really can work wonders. I believe that ending the stigmas around the word homelessness is a necessity in moving our society forward positively, unitedly which is what I would like to think everyone hopes to do.