Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

shavedclean t1_j91jggj wrote

Reply to comment by baller410610 in Baltimore Sees Steep Drop in Unhoused Residents by real_human__bean

It's the euphemism treadmill. Personally, I can't stand "unhoused," and think it sounds worse than homeless. It sounds (to me) like dogs to be put in a kennel. Anyway, I'm sure this word will fall out of favor soon enough, a new one will be found, and people can feel "enlightened" and scold those who aren't on board with this big new important change in how we discuss problems. Progress.

19

sllewgh t1_j91sxh8 wrote

Thankfully some of us are working on ending homelessness and not just renaming it.

12

socatsucks t1_j92iuoa wrote

That’s awesome! What do you do? Is it your job or a volunteer thing?

4

sllewgh t1_j92rkpl wrote

Both! I work for a nonprofit focused on issues of poverty, and I've supported Housing our Neighbors, a homeless led group dedicated to ending homelessness and organizing the homeless. If you want to be involved in treating the causes of homelessness and not just the symptoms, that's the best group I know.

5

brownshoez t1_j91ydxd wrote

I agree that ‘unhoused’ sounds more de-humanizing to me and will be short-lived

7

socatsucks t1_j92ccbo wrote

That’s interesting. I feel the same about the term “African-American.” To me it seems like othering. Most black people I know were born in the USA, so they are simply Americans. But, I’m also very white, so I’ll call whoever whatever they want to be called.

7

real_human__bean OP t1_j92yjcq wrote

I had a teacher who was a minor figure in the civil rights movement. He HATED the term African-American, and demanded to be called a Negro.

​

​

"My family has been here longer than yours, and none of us have ever been to Africa. We're the most American there is."

​

Makes sense to me.

6