A Clear Breakdown of Key Terms to Help the Public Speak Up, Push for Housing Solutions, and Move Past Harmful Misconceptions
It’s happened to most of us at least once. We’ve walked past someone who didn’t have a home and wished we could help, but the fear of saying the wrong thing kept us silent and we didn’t act.
Perhaps you saw them on public transit or shuffling past your family in the park. Maybe they’re a kindly neighbor camping out on their sister’s sofa or a teenager you know who has a dark secret. Your heart went out to this person, and you wanted to speak up on their behalf, but you just couldn’t find the right words.
Are they sleeping rough or in need of a refuge? Are they living through hidden homelessness or housing insecurity? The words circle around like a crossword puzzle, perplexing. But it’s high time we had the hard conversations that eventually give way to real, data-driven solutions and stop allowing trivial things like constantly shifting vocabulary to get in our way.
Below are some common terms you’re likely to see or hear in UK homeless advocacy media, along with their accompanying definitions, so that you can chime in on the conversation.
What It Really Means to be ‘Sleeping Rough’
Homelessness is a growing concern worldwide. In countries with high wealth indexes like the US and the UK, extreme wealth inequality has paved the way for homelessness to exist.
Take John, for example, a UK native who was homeless off and on for 30 years. John was gracious enough to oblige Invisible People with an exclusive interview from his hospital bed, where he struggled with health conditions and a debilitating cough. When asked about his experience with “rough sleeping”, he responded with a shrug.
“It is what it is,” said John. “It’s sleeping on the street.”
In UK terminology, the term “rough sleeping” is used to define the most extreme form of homelessness, which is sleeping on the street or in outside spaces unfit for human habitation. Other words that might be used interchangeably with rough sleeping include:
- Literal homelessness
- Unsheltered homelessness
- Unhoused
According to author Tracy Kidder, who chronicled an organization called Boston Health Care for the Homeless, the term “rough sleeping” dates back to 19th-century British slang and denotes an individual getting rest in rough places, such as park benches, abandoned loading docks, or even storage lockers.
Rough sleeping is usually the stereotypical image we envision when the word homelessness comes up in conversations. But, sleeping rough is not the only type of homelessness seen in the UK, and people who aspire to advocacy are bound to encounter many terms they might not be aware of.
In a recent interview with Invisible People reporters, Dr. Owen Clayton of the University of Lincoln emphasized the significance of language in relation to the cause, noting that historically, language and imagery have played a crucial role in the “othering” process that enables homelessness.
Never Underestimate the Power of Words in Advocacy
Homelessness looks different everywhere. There is no one-size-fits-all description of this societal ill. It is a complex problem with one simple solution — housing.
Advocating for housing requires a level of understanding that exceeds the mainstream media narrative. The only way to get the full picture is to zoom in on the details. Below are some key terms to help you raise awareness:
- Rough sleeping: Includes sleeping outside or in spaces unfit for human habitation. As a verb, you might find this term used as “sleeping rough”. While it is native to the UK, it does sometimes travel and can be seen in literature about US or Canadian homelessness as well.
- Accommodations: Temporary housing or shelter.
- Hostel: A type of temporary or emergency housing/shelter. Hostels often feature group accommodation settings and might also offer services or specialize in addiction recovery.
- B & B: Emergency accommodations provided by the UK government council. This temporary accommodation usually offers limited or no cooking features and a shared bathroom. These establishments are extremely short-term and lack modern amenities and private spaces.
- Refuge: An emergency safe house often reserved for homeless domestic violence victims and their children. A refuge usually boasts safety features not found in other temporary shelters, such as private addresses, emotional support staff, and services that cater to children’s health and education.
- Statutory homelessness: A term used when seeking legal assistance for homelessness through the Housing Acts.
- Non-statutory homelessness: A homeless person who does not fit the legal definition to qualify for housing assistance.
- Hidden homelessness: A less visible type of homelessness that is difficult to quantify because the individual or family is staying indoors with a friend or relative, or sometimes in a hotel or motel room.
- Sofa surfing: A kind of hidden homelessness where conditions are crowded or doubled up. One example could be sleeping on a friend’s or neighbor’s sofa.
- The Vagrancy Act: Ancient legislation used to criminalize homelessness or engaging in life-sustaining activities while homeless that advocates seek to eradicate completely.
- Social housing: Discounted or affordable housing provided by the UK government council.
- Housing insecurity: Spending more than half of the household’s salary on housing costs alone. Housing insecurity is currently the leading cause of homelessness in the UK.
Putting Your Words to Good Use: Talk to Your Local Legislators About Supporting Solutions to the Homeless Crisis
Homelessness can be exemplified through a variety of people and conditions. Sometimes homelessness is obvious because a person can be visibly seen sleeping outdoors. Other times, it is hidden in parked cars or behind the doors of temporary shelter establishments. The language used to describe this condition can be just as tricky, with words that seem the same but have slightly different meanings. But there’s no need to get hung up on semantics.
Homelessness is a solvable social condition that can be eradicated by speaking up, even if you’re not familiar with all of its many terms. Having a bit of background on the subject will only help you bring it to the forefront when you contact your local representatives, and remind them that permanent, affordable housing and services are the solution they should support without reservation.