‘Hobos’ or ‘homeless people’?
In the circle of our colleagues from the social sphere, there were lively discussions at extreme meetings about how to properly name people who do not have a permanent place of residence.
Those discussions prompted us to share with you today the second Post under the heading ‘Speak Barrier-Free!’ which will refer to the term a ‘homeless person’ and other unacceptable forms of its use.
We thank our project manager Khrystyna Kupcheva for such a concise and interesting explanation of the pet peeve
A hobo
An absolutely stigmatised, unacceptable, but, unfortunately, the most common term in everyday communication. An abbreviation from the russian language that gives a person an unjustified negative colour.
We are glad to note that this term is increasingly rare in communication which indicates a greater level of tolerance in our society.
An unhoused
It would seem that this term is as correct as possible, but it is also not quite tolerant.
Why? Because such a ‘flattering style’ of the word in a certain way eliminates the problem of a person who has been left without a home.Perhaps there is not such a clearly expressed negative connotation of the word but it carries the meaning that a person has never had a home, and this lifestyle suits them.
A person without a permanent place of residence
According to the basic rule for the formation of correct terminology, which we have already mentioned, we first indicate the word ‘person’ in the phrase. That is why it will be quite correct to say ‘a person without a permanent place of residence’.
A homeless person
It’s the most correct term to use in any communication.
A hint from us how to remember the correct term: the song of the band One in the Canoe ‘I have no home’ will help you.Remember that the correct definition is about a person who has no HOME, not a HOUSE.
A shelterless person
Another barrier-free term to use.
And here the construction of the associative series is even easier, because you all know about our project Domivka. This is how you can remember this term.
Friends, during the war, we, Ukrainians, are all socially vulnerable segments of the population, and in addition, many of us work every day with people who have met with the death of the loved ones, torture, destruction of their own homes and cities.
We ask you not to forget about tolerance in your communication and thereby consider the important rule of help ‘do no harm’!