Changing The Language We Use
By Garrett Recker
As the cost of living continues to rise, so does the individuals within the unstable housing community. Over the last decade, people have become more conscious of the language they use. Each word carries weight and implications. The term “homeless” has been used to categorize individuals and identify a community who lack a place to live. This term, however, carries weight with it and strips those with the label of humanizing qualities.
The term “home” encompasses the physical space but its reach extends beyond that. A home, for many people, is a place of safety. It’s the memories that invoke emotions. A home is a community were people bond and celebrate life together. Labeling a community “homeless,” simplifies the unique struggle of the individual and implies the community’s lacks the emotions and memories within every person. It creates an “us” and “them” mentality which fuels the idea that they are more a problem and less a community needing extra help. Instead, the term “houseless” encompasses just the lack of living space—the physicality of a home—while allowing them to keep the emotional aspect. By just focusing on the physical structure, it implies that their living status can change. They already have the ability to make a home, they just need the space to put it in. Everyone may not have a house, but everyone has a home.
Begin changing your mind and the mind of others through the use of language. Go to these sites to learn about the importance of the term “houseless” and listen to others who have made the change.
#HouselessNotHomeless
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