April 2025

Homelessness is a circumstance, not an identity.

We often hear terms like unhoused, unsheltered, crisis population, chronically homeless, or people experiencing homelessness. These labels attempt to describe people who, at one point or another, had a roof over their heads but are currently finding themselves in a different situation.

But these circumstances are so varied and can be vastly different. A person experiencing homelessness can be the woman asking you for change at the red light or the man sleeping under the overpass. They can also be friends or family members who have to couch surf for a few months or your college buddy who's #livingthatvanlife.

We struggle with the language around homelessness because even the most well-meaning terms get lost in translation. Using "homeless" as a casual identifier emphasizes only a single characteristic, and a heavy bias surrounds the word that can spike fear, judgment, and discomfort in the masses. It's easy to assign a label to someone we don't know, as it creates distance. But labels are a way to categorize, not connect.

In my line of work, I have met many people whose housing situations have varied vastly. People ask me all the time how I refer to "homeless people," and my response is always "by their name."

ADID Supportive Services is dedicated to helping those in need. Building the trust required to do this work recognizes individuals beyond a single experience. I practice this mindset daily; as I walk to the ADID offices on Peachtree, I smile and make eye contact with others every chance. Asking someone to introduce themselves shows that you care about them. Call a person by their name.

  

This month I wanted to share this film by the team at Centro San Antonio who are inspiring everyone in the Supportive Services space.