For me, the word homeless tends to draw compassion from me. I think of the times of uncertainty in my life when I could have gone without a house or apartment due to finances and the fear that gripped me in those situations. I care about people having a place with clean, running water and shelter from the elements. However, the word homeless kind of touches a sore spot in my heart these days.
While sitting in on a session at Unleashing Beauty where Charles Lee was speaking on the topic: “Practical Compassion: Simple Ideas of Care for Our World” I was struck by something he said. It was such a minor thing in the context of his discussion and something I think most in the room didn’t even think twice about. He made a reference to homeless people by saying the word houseless instead. That one word stood out and spoke volumes to me. I mean, in our minds it’s not slander or condescending to say someone is homeless. However, in the context of their situation, are they truly homeless or are they houseless.
I had a chance to speak with Charles after Unleashing Beauty and let him know how his language had impacted my thoughts. He said that (and I paraphrase here):
there are people that don’t have a house, yet have a home and there are people that have a house, yet do not have a home.
So true! I know that no matter where I was at, that with my family and love in our hearts we would have a home…even if that meant a patch of ground under an overpass, a cardboard box in an alley, or a motel room. Even though it’s in my mind and probably not in yours, it seems almost like an injustice to refer to someone temporarily without a house as homeless. If in my thoughts someone is houseless, not homeless, then it should be so in my words as well. After all, it’s not about looking down or feeling sorry for a houseless person…it’s about doing our part and sharing love to others how and where we are able. Someone without a house is a person just like we are. Their circumstances may be different, but they are still human just like you and me. Our houseless brothers and sisters deserve dignity, respect, and our love.
Thank you Charles for opening up my eyes to see how my use of commonplace wording really goes against the words in my heart and how I need to change my language, rather than conform to the language of others some times.
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When I hear the word, homeless, I have a mix of emotions. I feel the sadness. I feel the guilty of times where I spend on luxury. I have a huge urge to hold off the snobby I am better than them perspective.
Utmost, I feel that we are all the same. Jesus command us to love our neighbours. And we know our God is a God who defend and fight for the weak and oppress. When I see a ‘houseless’ person as a brother or sister, it gets personal. Then I get angry b/c we live in such wealth yet we still have people thinking about the next meal. And I pray hard and long for God’s Kingdom to come and for HS to be upon us so we can redeem those who are in need.
Cliff: I totally sense your thoughts and emotion in reading your reply. I agree that the disparity we have here in the United States between the wealthy and marginalized is massive and unjust. However, there is hope and one day we will know no pain or sorrow. Thanks for caring and for sharing your thoughts. May we all do our part to make the world a better place where we can see love overcome everything.
I hear you and I get what you are saying, but if homeless people do not refer to themselves as “houseless”, then that term might not communicate respect (it would only make us feel better or more appropriate somehow). Has anyone heard on the streets how people typically refer to themselves?
RL: Thanks for sharing your thoughts. As I mentioned in the original post, it is commonplace to think of someone as homeless and even homeless people will refer to their situation as being homeless. It’s all in the semantics. It’s not that it makes me feel better or brings more dignity to someone living on the streets or in a temporary shelter. It’s just a more-accurate reflection of who I see them and a conscious choice I am making. Not because it makes me feel better, but because I feel like it is the right way to look at the situation. I was just voicing my opinion through my blog post and hoping that it might cause others to pause and think about the meaning behind the words they use. Just because something is commonly accepted doesn’t mean that one day a better, more-appropriate description may come about. Kind of like one being handicapped. In the literal definition one with a disadvantage is handicapped. However, if those we perceive to be disadvantaged do not feel they are disadvantaged, then the more-appropriate description “physically challenged” came about. Many who were physically challenged still referred to their situation as a handicap or that they were handicapped. It’s all a state of mind. Thanks again for sharing, Ryan!
I suppose part of the conversation revolves around how we define “homeless”. The definition I typically use is “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate residence.”
Don’t get me wrong, what you are saying resonates with me, but I just wanted to post my initial thoughts here.
Good thoughts, Dave. Thanks for the discussion.