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.
