essay about homeless person

Essays About Homelessness: Top 8 Examples Plus Prompts

Everyone has heard of homeless people at some point in their lives; if you are writing essays about homelessness, read our top essay examples and prompts.

Poverty is one of the greatest evils in the world. Its effects are seen daily, from people begging on the streets to stealing to support their families. But unfortunately, one of the most prominent and upsetting diversity is homelessness. Homelessness is a significant problem in even the most developed nations, including the U.S. and Canada. Despite all the resources used to fight this issue, countries often lack the means to reduce homelessness significantly. With the proper aid, homelessness can be entirely eradicated in the future. 

If you want to write essays about homelessness, keep reading to see our essay examples and helpful writing prompts.

2. A journey with the homeless by Sujata Jena

3. i chose to be homeless: reflections on the homeless challenge by emily kvalheim, 4. my experience being homeless by scott benner, 5. what people get wrong when they try to end homelessness by james abro, 1. causes of homelessness , 2. how can homelessness be reduced, 3. mental illness and homelessness, 4. reflection on homelessness, 5. is homelessness a “personal problem”.

Are you looking for more? Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays

1. That Homeless Man is My Brother by Megan Regnerus

“But the subtext of my friend’s statement is really Why should I give money to someone who’s lazy; who isn’t willing to work for money like I do?’ And to that I say, her opinion that people who ask for money are freeloaders who could work but choose not to, is based on assumption. It relies on the notion that the two things that shape us into able-bodied adults who can hold down a regular job, nature and nurture, are level playing fields. And they’re not.”

Regnerus writes about a friend’s claim that the homeless are “lazy,” reminding her of her homeless brother. She cites genetics and circumstance as contributing factors to homelessness. Despite the other woman being her friend, Regnerus strongly refutes her belief that the homeless are non-disabled freeloaders- they should be treated with empathy. For more, check out these articles about homelessness .

“I realize that the situation of poverty and homelessness is a huge social problem around the world. But when I meet them, I face fellow human beings, not some abstract “social problem.” The very phrase, “What would Jesus do at this scene?” haunted me.  I ventured to ask their names, age, where they came from, where they live (street, bridges, cemetery) and the reason they are on the streets. Their stories are poignant. Each one has a unique story to tell about his/her reason to be homeless, how they were forced to leave distant rural villages to live on the city streets. I tried to listen to them with empathy.”

In her essay, Jena remembers the homeless people in Manila, Philippines. She can see them beyond some “aspect of society” as human beings. She empathizes with them extensively and recalls the words of Jesus Christ about loving others, particularly the neediest.

“I, too, have not been compassionate enough, and I have allowed my prejudices to distort my view of the homeless. One woman, who sat across from me at a feeding program, talking to herself erratically, may have seemed strange to me before the Homeless Challenge. But when I really saw myself as her equal, and when I took the time to watch her get up and laugh as she danced to the music playing in the background, I thought she was beautiful. She had found her own happiness, amidst despair.”

Kvalheim details her experiences during an immersion challenge with the homeless. She recalls both the discrimination and generosity she experienced and her experiences with other homeless people. She was amazed to see how they could stay positive despite their terrible circumstances. We should be thankful for what we have and use it to help others in need. 

“As my funds dwindled, and the weather got colder, I sought shelter at Father Bill’s in Quincy Ma. When you are homeless, sometimes very small things mean a lot. A dry pair of socks, shoes without holes, a pocketful of change. You begin to realize how much you value your personal space. You begin to realize other people want space too. A lot of people have issues or have suffered in one way or another and you can see their pain. I think that there are people who for a variety of issue are chronically homeless and a larger portion of homeless are transitioning through a series of bad events.”

Benner’s essay, written for the company ArtLifting, reflects on his experience of being homeless for a brief while. Then, he and his wife grew ill, and Benner sought refuge at a homeless shelter after his company shut down. After that, he realized how his struggles were very different from those of others and the value of the more minor things he previously took for granted. Luckily, he escaped homelessness by making art with the help of ArtLifting. 

“The court denied my sister’s request and named me our mother’s legal guardian, but it appointed my sister as guardian of her property.  In 2009, when my mother passed away, my sister evicted me. The day I was scheduled to move out, I stood in a convenience store, dazed, as I stared at microwaveable meals.  These would be my new staple when I moved into the motel room. My phone rang—my sister.  She told me she needed me out of the house in a couple of hours—she was a real estate agent and a client wanted to see the house. ‘No hard feelings,’ she said.”

Similar to Benner, Abro narrates the circumstances surrounding his homelessness. After his mother’s death and a conflict with his sister led to his eviction, he ended up homeless. While his situation was unfortunate, he believes that there are many people worse off than him and that something must change to address the housing and poverty crises in America.

Top 5 Prompts On Essays about Homelessness

For your essay, it would be interesting to write about how people become homeless in the first place. Research the different causes of homelessness and elaborate on them, and be sure to provide sources such as statistics and anecdotes. 

What solutions to homelessness can you think of? In your essay, propose at least one way you think the homelessness problem can be solved or at least reduced. It must be concrete, realistic, and defensible; be sure to explain your solution well and defend its feasibility, backing up your claims with facts and logic. 

Homelessness and mental health can be linked—research into declining mental health and how homelessness can impact a person’s mental well-being. Make sure to use research data and statistics to show your findings. Conclude whether poor mental health can cause homelessness or if homelessness causes poor mental health.

You can write about what homelessness means to you in your essay. Perhaps you’ve heard stories of homeless people, or maybe you know someone who is or has been homeless. Use this essay to highly the effects of homelessness and how we can work together as a society to eradicate it.

Many say that homeless people “choose to be homeless” and are underachievers; otherwise, they would simply “get a job” and lift themselves out of poverty. Is this true? Research this topic and decide on your stance. Then, write about whether you agree with this topic for a compelling argumentative essay.

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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5 Essays About Homelessness

Around the world, people experience homelessness. According to a 2005 survey by the United Nations, 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing. The causes vary depending on the place and person. Common reasons include a lack of affordable housing, poverty, a lack of mental health services, and more. Homelessness is rooted in systemic failures that fail to protect those who are most vulnerable. Here are five essays that shine a light on the issue of homelessness:

What Would ‘Housing as a Human Right’ Look Like in California? (2020) – Molly Solomon

For some time, activists and organizations have proclaimed that housing is a human right. This essay explores what that means and that it isn’t a new idea. Housing as a human right was part of federal policy following the Great Depression. In a 1944 speech introducing what he called the “Second Bill of Rights,” President Roosevelt attempted to address poverty and income equality. The right to have a “decent home” was included in his proposals. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration also recognizes housing as a human right. It describes the right to an “adequate standard of living.” Other countries such as France and Scotland include the right to housing in their constitutions. In the US, small local governments have adopted resolutions on housing. How would it work in California?

At KQED, Molly Solomon covers housing affordability. Her stories have aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other places. She’s won three national Edward R. Murrow awards.

“What People Get Wrong When They Try To End Homelessness” – James Abro

In his essay, James Abro explains what led up to six weeks of homelessness and his experiences helping people through social services. Following the death of his mother and eviction, Abro found himself unhoused. He describes himself as “fortunate” and feeling motivated to teach people how social services worked. However, he learned that his experience was somewhat unique. The system is complicated and those involved don’t understand homelessness. Abro believes investing in affordable housing is critical to truly ending homelessness.

James Abro is the founder of Advocate for Economic Fairness and 32 Beach Productions. He works as an advocate for homeless rights locally and nationally. Besides TalkPoverty, he contributes to Rebelle Society and is an active member of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness.

“No Shelter For Some: Street-Sleepers” (2019)

This piece (by an unknown author) introduces the reader to homelessness in urban China. In the past decades, a person wouldn’t see many homeless people. This was because of strict rules on internal migration and government-supplied housing. Now, the rules have changed. People from rural areas can travel more and most urban housing is privatized. People who are homeless – known as “street-sleepers” are more visible. This essay is a good summary of the system (which includes a shift from police management of homelessness to the Ministry of Civil Affairs) and how street-sleepers are treated.

“A Window Onto An American Nightmare” (2020) – Nathan Heller

This essay from the New Yorker focuses on San Francisco’s history with homelessness, the issue’s complexities, and various efforts to address it. It also touches on how the pandemic has affected homelessness. One of the most intriguing parts of this essay is Heller’s description of becoming homeless. He says people “slide” into it, as opposed to plunging. As an example, someone could be staying with friends while looking for a job, but then the friends decide to stop helping. Maybe someone is jumping in and out of Airbnbs, looking for an apartment. Heller’s point is that the line between only needing a place to stay for a night or two and true “homelessness” is very thin.

Nathan Heller joined the New Yorker’s writing staff in 2013. He writes about technology, higher education, the Bay Area, socioeconomics, and more. He’s also a contributing editor at Vogue, a former columnist for Slate, and contributor to other publications.

“Homelessness in Ireland is at crisis point, and the vitriol shown towards homeless people is just as shocking” (2020)#- Megan Nolan

In Ireland, the housing crisis has been a big issue for years. Recently, it’s come to a head in part due to a few high-profile incidents, such as the death of a young woman in emergency accommodation. The number of children experiencing homelessness (around 4,000) has also shone a light on the severity of the issue. In this essay, Megan Nolan explores homelessness in Ireland as well as the contempt that society has for those who are unhoused.

Megan Nolan writes a column for the New Statesman. She also writes essays, criticism, and fiction. She’s from Ireland but based in London.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

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City of Boston workers clear encampments in the area known as Mass and Cass.

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Alvin Powell

Harvard Staff Writer

Experts cite complexity of problem, which is rooted in poverty, lack of affordable housing but includes medical, psychiatric, substance-use issues

It took seven years for Abigail Judge to see what success looked like for one Boston homeless woman.

The woman had been sex trafficked since she was young, was a drug user, and had been abused, neglected, or exploited in just about every relationship she’d had. If Judge was going to help her, trust had to come first. Everything else — recovery, healing, employment, rejoining society’s mainstream — might be impossible without it. That meant patience despite the daily urgency of the woman’s situation.

“It’s nonlinear. She gets better, stops, gets re-engaged with the trafficker and pulled back into the lifestyle. She does time because she was literally holding the bag of fentanyl for these guys,” said Judge, a psychology instructor at Harvard Medical School whose outreach program, Boston Human Exploitation and Sex Trafficking (HEAT), is supported by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Police Department. “This is someone who’d been initially trafficked as a kid and when I met her was 23 or 24. She turned 30 last year, and now she’s housed, she’s abstinent, she’s on suboxone. And she’s super involved in her community.”

It’s a success story, but one that illustrates some of the difficulties of finding solutions to the nation’s homeless problem. And it’s not a small problem. A  December 2023 report  by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said 653,104 Americans experienced homelessness, tallied on a single night in January last year. That figure was the highest since HUD began reporting on the issue to Congress in 2007 .

Abigail Judge of the Medical School (from left) and Sandra Andrade of Massachusetts General Hospital run the outreach program Boston HEAT (Human Exploitation and Sex Trafficking).

Niles Singer/Harvard Staff Photographer

Scholars, healthcare workers, and homeless advocates agree that two major contributing factors are poverty and a lack of affordable housing, both stubbornly intractable societal challenges. But they add that hard-to-treat psychiatric issues and substance-use disorders also often underlie chronic homelessness. All of which explains why those who work with the unhoused refer to what they do as “the long game,” “the long walk,” or “the five-year-plan” as they seek to address the traumas underlying life on the street.

“As a society, we’re looking for a quick fix, but there’s no quick fix for this,” said Stephen Wood, a visiting fellow at Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics and a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at Carney Hospital in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. “It takes a lot of time to fix this. There will be relapses; there’ll be problems. It requires an interdisciplinary effort for success.”

A recent study of 60,000 homeless people in Boston found the average age of death was decades earlier than the nation’s 2017 life expectancy of 78.8 years.

Illustration by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff

Katherine Koh, an assistant professor of psychiatry at HMS and psychiatrist at MGH on the street team for Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, traced the rise of homelessness in recent decades to a combination of factors, including funding cuts for community-based care, affordable housing, and social services in the 1980s as well as deinstitutionalization of mental hospitals.

“Though we have grown anesthetized to seeing people living on the street in the U.S., homelessness is not inevitable,” said Koh, who sees patients where they feel most comfortable — on the street, in church basements, public libraries. “For most of U.S. history, it has not been nearly as visible as it is now. There are a number of countries with more robust social services but similar prevalence of mental illness, for example, where homelessness rates are significantly lower. We do not have to accept current rates of homelessness as the way it has to be.”

“As a society, we’re looking for a quick fix, but there’s no quick fix for this.” Stephen Wood, visiting fellow, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics

Success stories exist and illustrate that strong leadership, multidisciplinary collaboration, and adequate resources can significantly reduce the problem. Prevention, meanwhile, in the form of interventions focused on transition periods like military discharge, aging out of foster care, and release from prison, has the potential to vastly reduce the numbers of the newly homeless.

Recognition is also growing — at Harvard and elsewhere — that homelessness is not merely a byproduct of other issues, like drug use or high housing costs, but is itself one of the most difficult problems facing the nation’s cities. Experts say that means interventions have to be multidisciplinary yet focused on the problem; funding for research has to rise; and education of the next generation of leaders on the issue must improve.

“This is an extremely complex problem that is really the physical and most visible embodiment of a lot of the public health challenges that have been happening in this country,” said Carmel Shachar, faculty director of Harvard Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation. “The public health infrastructure has always been the poor Cinderella, compared to the healthcare system, in terms of funding. We need increased investment in public health services, in the public health workforce, such that, for people who are unhoused, are unsheltered, who are struggling with substance use, we have a meaningful answer for them.”

“You can either be admitted to a hospital with a substance-use disorder, or you can be admitted with a psychiatric disorder, but very, very rarely will you be admitted to what’s called a dual-diagnosis bed,” said Wood, a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at Carney Hospital.

Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Experts say that the nation’s unhoused population not only experiences poverty and exposure to the elements, but also suffers from a lack of basic health care, and so tend to get hit earlier and harder than the general population by various ills — from the flu to opioid dependency to COVID-19.

A recent study of 60,000 homeless people in Boston recorded 7,130 deaths over the 14-year study period. The average age of death was 53.7, decades earlier than the nation’s 2017 life expectancy of 78.8 years. The leading cause of death was drug overdose, which increased 9.35 percent annually, reflecting the track of the nation’s opioid epidemic, though rising more quickly than in the general population.

A closer look at the data shows that impacts vary depending on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. All-cause mortality was highest among white men, age 65 to 79, while suicide was a particular problem among the young. HIV infection and homicide, meanwhile, disproportionately affected Black and Latinx individuals. Together, those results highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to background and circumstances, according to Danielle Fine, instructor in medicine at HMS and MGH and an author of two analyses of the study’s data.

“The takeaway is that the mortality gap between the homeless population and the general population is widening over time,” Fine said. “And this is likely driven in part by a disproportionate number of drug-related overdose deaths in the homeless population compared to the general population.”

Inadequate supplies of housing

Though homelessness has roots in poverty and a lack of affordable housing, it also can be traced to early life issues, Koh said. The journey to the streets often starts in childhood, when neglect and abuse leave their marks, interfering with education, acquisition of work skills, and the ability to maintain healthy relationships.

“A major unaddressed pathway to homelessness, from my vantage point, is childhood trauma. It can ravage people’s lives and minds, until old age,” Koh said. “For example, some of my patients in their 70s still talk about the trauma that their parents inflicted on them. The lack of affordable housing is a key factor, though there are other drivers of homelessness we must also tackle.”

The number was the highest since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development began reporting on the issue to Congress in 2007 .

Most advocates embrace a “housing first” approach, prioritizing it as a first step to obtaining other vital services. But they say the type of housing also matters. Temporary shelters are a key part of the response, but many of the unhoused avoid them because of fears of theft, assault, and sexual assault. Instead, long-term beds, including those designated for people struggling with substance use and mental health issues, are needed.

“You can either be admitted to a hospital with a substance-use disorder, or you can be admitted with a psychiatric disorder, but very, very rarely will you be admitted to what’s called a dual-diagnosis bed,” said Petrie-Flom’s Wood. “The data is pretty solid on this issue: If you have a substance-use disorder there’s likely some underlying, severe trauma. Yet, when we go to treat them, we address one but not the other. You’re never going to find success in the system that we currently have if you don’t recognize that dual diagnosis.”

Services offered to those in housing should avoid what Koh describes as a “one-size-fits-none” approach. Some might need monthly visits from a caseworker to ensure they’re getting the support they need, she said. But others struggle once off the streets. They need weekly — even daily — support from counselors, caseworkers, and other service providers.

“I have seen, sadly, people who get housed and move very quickly back out on the streets or, even more tragically, lose their life from an unwitnessed overdose in housing,” Koh said. “There’s a community that’s formed on the street so if you overdose, somebody can give you Narcan or call 911. If you don’t have the safety of peers around, people can die. We had a patient who literally died just a few days after being housed, from an overdose. We really cannot just house people and expect their problems to be solved. We need to continue to provide the best care we can to help people succeed once in housing.”

“We really cannot just house people and expect their problems to be solved.”  Katherine Koh, Mass. General psychiatrist

Koh works on the street team for Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

Photo by Dylan Goodman

The nation’s failure to address the causes of homelessness has led to the rise of informal encampments from Portland, Maine, to the large cities of the West Coast. In Boston, an informal settlement of tents and tarps near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard was a point of controversy before it was cleared in November.

In the aftermath, more than 100 former “Mass and Cass” residents have been moved into housing, according to media reports. But experts were cautious in their assessment of the city’s plans. They gave positive marks for features such as a guaranteed place to sleep, “low threshold” shelters that don’t require sobriety, and increased outreach to connect people with services. But they also said it’s clear that unintended consequences have arisen. and the city’s homelessness problem is far from solved.

Examples abound. Judge, who leads Boston HEAT in collaboration with Sandra Andrade of MGH, said that a woman she’d been working with for two years, who had been making positive strides despite fragile health, ongoing sexual exploitation, and severe substance use disorder, disappeared after Mass and Cass was cleared.

Mike Jellison, a peer counselor who works on Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program’s street team, said dismantling the encampment dispersed people around the city and set his team scrambling to find and reconnect people who had been receiving medical care with providers. It’s also clear, he said, that Boston Police are taking a hard line to prevent new encampments from popping up in other neighborhoods, quickly clearing tents and other structures.

“We were out there Wednesday morning on our usual route in Charlesgate,” Jellison said in early December. “And there was a really young couple who had all their stuff packed. And [the police] just told them, ‘You’ve got to leave, you can’t stay here.’ She was crying, ‘Where am I going to go?’ This was a couple who works; they’re employed and work out of a tent. It was like 20 degrees out there. It was heartbreaking.”

Prevention as cure?

Successes in reducing homelessness in the U.S. are scarce, but not unknown. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, for example, has reduced veteran homelessness nationally by more than 50 percent since 2010.

Experts point out, however, that the agency has advantages in dealing with the problem. It is a single, nationwide, administrative entity so medical records follow patients when they move, offering continuity of care often absent for those without insurance or dealing with multiple private providers. Another advantage is that the VA’s push, begun during the Obama administration, benefited from both political will on the part of the White House and Congress and received support and resources from other federal agencies.

The city of Houston is another example. In 2011, Houston had the nation’s fifth-largest homeless population. Then-Mayor Annise Parker began a program that coordinated 100 regional nonprofits to provide needed services and boost the construction of low-cost housing in the relatively inexpensive Houston market.

Neither the VA nor Houston was able to eliminate homelessness, however.

To Koh, that highlights the importance of prevention. In 2022, she published research in which she and a team used an artificial-intelligence-driven model to identify those who could benefit from early intervention before they wound up on the streets. The researchers examined a group of U.S. service members and found that self-reported histories of depression, trauma due to a loved one’s murder, and post-traumatic stress disorder were the three strongest predictors of homelessness after discharge.

In April 2023, Koh, with co-author Benjamin Land Gorman, suggested in the Journal of the American Medical Association that using “Critical Time Intervention,” where help is focused on key transitions, such as military discharge or release from prison or the hospital, has the potential to head off homelessness.

“So much of the clinical research and policy focus is on housing those who are already homeless,” Koh said. “But even if we were to house everybody who’s homeless today, there are many more people coming down the line. We need sustainable policies that address these upstream determinants of homelessness, in order to truly solve this problem.”

The education imperative

Despite the obvious presence of people living and sleeping on city sidewalks, the topic of homelessness has been largely absent from the nation’s colleges and universities. Howard Koh, former Massachusetts commissioner of public health and former U.S. assistant secretary for Health and Human Services, is working to change that.

In 2019, Koh, who is also the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership, founded the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health’s pilot Initiative on Health and Homelessness. The program seeks to educate tomorrow’s leaders about homelessness and support research and interdisciplinary collaboration to create new knowledge on the topic. The Chan School’s course “Homelessness and Health: Lessons from Health Care, Public Health, and Research” is one of just a handful focused on homelessness offered by schools of public health nationwide.

“The topic remains an orphan,” said Koh. The national public health leader (who also happens to be Katherine’s father) traced his interest in the topic to a bitter winter while he was Massachusetts public health commissioner when 13 homeless people froze to death on Boston’s streets. “I’ve been haunted by this issue for several decades as a public health professional. We now want to motivate courageous and compassionate young leaders to step up and address the crisis, educate students, motivate researchers, and better inform policymakers about evidence-based studies. We want every student who walks through Harvard Yard and sees vulnerable people lying in Harvard Square to not accept their suffering as normal.”

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How I became homeless: three people's stories

The number of families affected by homelessness is expected to double by 2041. We asked people to share their experiences

The number of families affected by homelessness is expected to more than double in the next two decades, with a further 200,000 households affected by 2041, according to a report.

Those sleeping rough will soar by fourfold to more than 40,000 in the same period, according to research by Heriot-Watt University, commissioned by Crisis , the homelessness charity.

We asked people to share their experiences of homelessness.

Paul Curtis, 68, who lives on a narrowboat: ‘My home was repossessed because I could not pay my mortgage’

I became homeless when my marriage broke up. I had taken on a big mortgage and the interest rate went up. I became overstretched when my marriage ended. I had lost an income and then I also lost my job.

I was falling further and further behind with my debt repayments. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I think I was having a mental meltdown. I wasn’t able to cope and began drinking too much. I quit my job because I wasn’t happy with the way things were being run at the organisation. I imagined I would quickly find another job, but it didn’t work out that way.

My home was repossessed because I couldn’t afford my mortgage repayments. More than that, the will had gone. When you get hit by a few things at once it affects your ability to think clearly. You are firefighting all the time. Depression saps your energy: it makes it hard to get up in the morning and put together a rational plan.

As a stop-gap measure, I stayed with friends. What was supposed to be temporary ended up lasting a year. There was a long period when I was rudderless, moving from place to place.

To say I was lucky is an understatement – I never had to live on the streets. The people who put a roof over my head were unbelievably kind and generous and never once made me feel like I was an intruder. But I felt like an intruder. “We are going out, there’s food in the fridge. Help yourself. You know how the remote works. Don’t wait up,” they would say.

I was very aware it was not my home; my stuff wasn’t there and I made no decisions about anything. I was a guest. I would walk around the shopping centre and the streets for hours hoping to exhaust myself, looking at empty allotments and wondering if I could live there.

There’s a feeling of powerlessness when you’re homeless; you feel lost. My experience changed how I see homeless people. After a while I got over whatever it was that was going on in my head. I found a job and a flat and the friends who helped me are still, thankfully, my friends. But I have never got over the fear of homelessness, that feeling of being nowhere.

I am lucky that I now have a beautiful home in which I am very happy. I live on a narrowboat. I am warm and secure and it’s a lifestyle I enjoy – also, what with being retired, it’s a lifestyle I can afford. I know I couldn’t afford to go back into the world and pay rent; the system is rotten. Homeless people are victims of government policy over the past 20-30 years and it’s going to get worse.

Caroline, 44, from Leeds: ‘Mental illness, poverty and homelessness were interlinked’

I have been homeless twice – once when I was 23 and again at 30. Both times it was due to mental health problems.

The first time it happened I left my job because I wasn’t well. I went to stay with my parents, but it didn’t work out and my dad asked me to leave. Then I went to stay with friends.

I was still struggling and one night I had a panic attack. My friends said: “We love you but you’re starting to drive us mad.” So I left and wandered the streets.

I went to a local hostel but they turned me away, saying: “Men only, try a B&B.” My thoughts had gone haywire and I felt tormented. I just didn’t know where to go.

I went to a male friend who turned me away – until he realised I was desperate. Then he made me a bed on his living room floor. He arranged for me to stay with some of his female friends but in my unbalanced state I felt uncomfortable doing this.

I had been going to outpatient appointments at a local mental health hospital. At my next visit with the psychiatrist, I was so desperate I asked if they could take me in. I was admitted for six weeks and although it was tough, it did lead to a turnaround. They got me on medication. When I left, I got a rented room and rebuilt my life. I got part-time jobs and later went on to study.

The second time I became homeless it followed a similar pattern. I had been working part-time in a shop but ended up leaving. So I had no job and rent to pay. I applied for benefits but the money got sent to the wrong account. Eventually it got sorted out but I then became ill. I withdrew from the benefits system because I found it too complicated to handle in my confused state. I soon couldn’t afford the rent and had to leave my property.

A few friends tried to help me, and one tried to help me access benefits. I stayed at people’s houses for a few nights. My relationship with my family became strained and I was taken into a local mental health hospital. Thankfully, I never slept rough or on the streets but I was close to sleeping in a park.

The whole experience was terrifying both times, not knowing where I was going to spend the night. I felt abandoned and alone. At times I had no one to turn to. I would ask friends if I could sleep on their floor. They came through for me at first but then the help ran out.

I was warned off hostels so I didn’t want to go there. You get so many knockbacks. I remember all my belongings being stuffed into a few bags I carried around with me. Eventually things got better and I clawed my way back to sanity and got a good job.

Mental illness, poverty and homelessness were interlinked in my case – I’m sure that’s the situation for a lot of people. Safety nets can fall apart and I went into a downward spiral. I would like to see an end to the stigma attached to homelessness. It can be a terrifying and devastating experience that no one should go through.

Tony*, 57, from Somerset: ‘I was not working and taking heroin day in, day out’

I made a mistake when I was younger and got caught smoking dope. I ended up having to do a short prison sentence. After that I decided to leave my home town of Derby.

I ended up living in a London Fields tower block with a friend. I moved in with him but we fell out after a while and I couldn’t find anywhere else to go. I started squatting and travelling.

When I was in London I started taking drugs. That stopped me sorting myself out and finding a place. It wasn’t a nice time and there were not many jobs around.

I ended up being homeless on the streets on and off. I would sleep rough for a few weeks or a month. I served a few spells in prison but I would usually end up on the streets again as when I got out I had nowhere to live.

In the mid-1990s, I went into rehab and did OK for about four or five years. The recovery lasted until my son died; that sent me over the edge. After that I was not working and taking heroin day in, day out. It took me seven years to get back on track.

After another rehab stay I finally got it right and became involved with a local homelessness charity – first as a volunteer, and now as a full-time support worker.

Homeless people are just people. I will never promise a client anything because when I was homeless, some agencies said they would do X,Y or Z for me and then they’d come back with a valid reason why they couldn’t. That was tough.

My boss thinks I tend to be not too soft but maybe too understanding. It’s true that I empathise with the people I work with and see things more from their perspective.

* Not his real name.

• Homelessness
• Social exclusion
• Communities
• Mental health

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‘People say all the time, “I understand.” No, you don’t.’

‘Talk to us about our wants and needs. Talk to us like adults. Like human beings.’

As this country struggles with a growing crisis of homelessness, it’s time to start listening to the people who are living it.

A Life Without A

Voices from the tents, shelters, cars, motels and couches of America.

A record number of people across the country are experiencing homelessness: the federal government’s annual tally last year revealed the highest numbers of unsheltered people since the count began in 2007. Politicians and policymakers are grappling with what can be done. But the people who are actually experiencing homelessness are rarely part of the conversation.

Lori Teresa Yearwood, a journalist who lived through years of homelessness, spoke of the ways we discount those without shelter. “Society created a new species of people, and we carefully crafted an image of them: one of broken passivity and victimhood, people in need of constant scrutiny and monitoring,” she said in a 2022 speech. “When we shift and widen the perspective of the unhoused, that’s when things radically change.” Ms. Yearwood collaborated with Times Opinion on this project before her untimely death in September. She understood what many who have not experienced homelessness ignore: that people without shelter have something to say — and often something of great worth — about what it’s like to live inside this country’s cobbled-together solutions.

That’s why we sent reporters and photographers to different parts of the country to meet with people experiencing homelessness in very different ways. We asked them to fill out surveys, take videos, use disposable cameras and have their children share drawings.

Whatever led them to homelessness, the people who spoke to The Times want a way out. As the nation debates how to help them, they shared the solutions they want to see.

Chelsie Stevens has been sleeping on friends’ couches while she attends community college.

She and her children are some of the estimated 3.7 million Americans who are doubled up, a kind of homelessness hidden in plain sight.

A Is Not a Home

By Linda Villarosa Photographs by Sasha Phyars-Burgess

Crashing at someone’s house, doubling up, couch surfing: It all conjures a rosy scenario in which someone takes in friends or family members who have fallen on hard times, offering them comfort, safety and a roof over their …

Crashing at someone’s house, doubling up, couch surfing: It all conjures a rosy scenario in which someone takes in friends or family members who have fallen on hard times, offering them comfort, safety and a roof over their heads. But in reality, doubling up is a much more complicated, under-the-radar form of homelessness. It may be a temporary solution, a precursor to living in a shelter or on the street, or part of a cycle of housing instability that involves crowded living conditions and a devastating lack of privacy and safety. The Department of Housing and Urban Development doesn’t recognize doubling up as homelessness, which can mean that families and individuals who live with others — by necessity, not choice — lose out on essential government services and benefits.

Chelsie Stevens’s sons, 11 and 14, sleeping on an inflatable bed.

But we can have a sense of the size of the problem by looking at the children. Thanks to landmark 1987 legislation, children who share housing because of economic hardship or loss of their homes qualify for benefits through their public schools: dedicated liaisons, free lunch, free transportation to school even if they are living out of the district. In 2022, public schools counted 1,205,292 homeless students, 76 percent of whom were doubled up. We met with four single moms, all of whom were crashing at someone else’s house with their children.

For parents who lose stable housing, options are limited: In many areas, family shelters are few and far between, and motel rooms get expensive. But staying with others comes with its own costs.

Jackie Randolph , 34, is staying with her five children in a bedroom at her ex-partner’s place in Cincinnati : We got to be quiet. We can’t talk loud. We can’t have fun. We can’t do nothing. It’s like living in jail. We got to be sneaky because of the neighbors. They’re really set in their ways and they ain’t trying to have nobody that stay over there that don’t live there.

Chelsie Stevens, 33, has been on friends’ couches with one of her children while the others sleep at their grandparents’ house near Sarasota, Fla . : I met my current host getting cleaning jobs from him. Thankfully he understood my situation because he has been in my shoes and let me pay him $600 a month to stay with him. He makes me feel like we’re welcome to stay in his house but it’s a little uncomfortable because now that I am staying here, our relationship went from a friendship about work to some odd feeling like he likes me or wants to date me. But we have nowhere else to go.

Michelle Schultz, 52, has been staying on friends’ couches with her daughter near Waukesha, Wis. : It can cause a strain on even the best friendships. As much as it's nice that people will do that, it’s a burden for them to take up that extra space.

Lizbeth Santiago, 28, sleeps with her two children on the floor of her sister’s living room in Fort Worth : Living with my sister feels terrible. It’s very tense. My children are very loud and rambunctious while her son is quiet. My sister, having anxiety and paranoia and autism, it’s upsetting for her. So I feel quite bad.

Staying at someone’s house makes securing benefits tricky: The government often counts benefits by household instead of per individual family.

Lizbeth Santiago : I don’t have SNAP benefits or anything. My sister gets a Social Security check for my nephew because he’s autistic and that helps them a lot. If they didn’t have that, they also would not be making it. But because I live with them, I can’t apply for SNAP benefits — that would negatively affect her. And would put an even bigger strain on our relationship.

Michelle Schultz : Because state regulations want to include everybody you’re living with in their income, I had to lie this whole 10 years that I've been homeless. If they know what the household income is, I would lose food stamps. I would lose benefits to the point where I’d probably have to pay copay for doctor prescriptions. I just had to tell them I was homeless and I gave them a mailing address of a P.O. box.

Beyond their own day-to-day concerns, these parents worry about how their living conditions are affecting their children.

Chelsie Stevens : They are behaving poorly in school. My oldest is always worried about me and has a hard time focusing. The kids seem depressed more now.

Lizbeth Santiago : I know it affects her. She tries to hide it. She’s a child. I want her to be a child. I don’t want her to worry about why Mommy’s upset. Those are adult concerns. Those are things that she shouldn’t have on her mind. I wish she didn’t have to experience any of that.

Jackie Randolph : My only goal is making sure my kids stay happy so they don’t think about the situation we are in. Every time they start doubting or they get weary, I just say: “This is just going to make us stronger. It’s going to bring us closer together. You could tell your kids about this.” So they could say: “My mom, she did not give up. She did not give up. She kept fighting.” My kids is the reason why I’m not in a crazy house right now. Because I probably should have been years ago.

Jackie Randolph’s youngest daughter, Clinteria.

Chelsie Stevens’s youngest daughter, Faith.

Navigating the bureaucracy of homelessness is difficult for people who are doubled up. Here’s what they want and need.

Lizbeth Santiago : A job that pays enough. But the harsh reality is it won’t be enough. I donate plasma two times a week and I’m still going to continue to have to do that. I also go to a food pantry once a week to get food.

Jackie Randolph : Stop making the process so long. If somebody needs help today, why would you say, “Next week we’ll be here to help you” or “Give us 30 days to help you”?

Michelle Schultz : If I could have had some help with day care to be able to go and look for a job.

Chelsie Stevens : There needs to be something in place for the young kids growing up in poverty, and parents of those kids. To guide them at a young age how to not end up like I am. Not everyone is born into normalcy and structure or love. Until a person is taught, how can they know?

Like so many others experiencing homelessness, Chelsie Stevens found that her situation deteriorated the longer she was out of stable housing.

After staying at her friend’s apartment for several months, she left when her host made her feel uncomfortable. Her children slept at their grandparents’ house while she slept in her car.

Scroll to read what people living in motels, cars, encampments and shelters want others to understand about homelessness in America.

Times Opinion asked people experiencing homelessness to respond to a survey in their own writing.

How has your life changed since you became homeless?

Edward Taylor, 47, has been sleeping in his car for several months.

Chelsie Stevens, 33, sleeps on friends’ couches and in her car.

Since she lost her family home nearly a year ago, Kimberly has been living in a motel.

Terri Ann Romo, 43, sleeps in a car she shares with her elderly mother.

People like Kimberly who turn to motels for shelter are often not even counted as homeless.

By Samantha M. Shapiro Photographs by Paul D’Amato

They arrive in cars crammed with the contents of the homes they were evicted from, or by bus, weighed down by bags. They walk over, in wet socks or ruined pants, from a tent encampment nearby when the weather is too rough to be …

They arrive in cars crammed with the contents of the homes they were evicted from, or by bus, weighed down by bags. They walk over, in wet socks or ruined pants, from a tent encampment nearby when the weather is too rough to be outside. They leave their kids sleeping in the queen beds when they go to work the night shift at an Amazon warehouse. Few of the guests at this airport motel arrive on a flight; most are locals in search of affordable shelter. A yellow school bus picks up children outside the lobby and police cars and outreach workers do rounds through the parking lot, but mostly the true role the motel plays is invisible and improvised by desk clerks. The capacity of shelters and subsidized housing hasn’t kept pace with the growing homelessness crisis, so New York and other cities have turned to private motels to house people, and some charities offer emergency vouchers for brief stays. During the Covid pandemic, empty hotels and motels were also temporarily converted into official homeless shelters; most of those programs have since wound down. But even in places where motels are not officially serving as homeless shelters, people who have lost their housing simply pay the rack rate when they have nowhere else to go. Motels offer an option for those who are shut out of rentals because of evictions on their records or for parents who do not want to be separated from their children, as many shelters do not accept families. We spoke with 11 people who are temporarily staying in a motel on the outskirts of Milwaukee.

Ashley and her twin children in their motel room.

Paying by the night or week is more feasible for those who struggle to put together enough cash for a security deposit and one month’s rent. But the cost of a room can vary from night to night and the monthly cost of a motel stay is often much higher than rent.

Ashley, 38, has been staying with four of her five children in a motel room for the last several months : This is my first time being displaced from housing. The first two weeks were the roughest. I didn’t know where to go. I’m used to having birthday parties at hotels for my kids — I’m really only in hotels then or if we’re on vacation. I didn’t know you can rent hotels to live. I pay daily at these hotels. It’s expensive. On a good night, it costs $51; with tax, $56. On weekends it’s $73. They usually tell me if something special is going on, because it’ll go up. For the state fair, they actually put all the homeless people out. I was back in my car for two weeks.

Kala, 32, has been battling drug addiction for years. She and her partner stay in motel rooms whenever they have enough money : You are basically on a timer that gives you anxiety and puts you on an edge. I have to figure out how to come up with another 70 bucks in less than 24 hours every day. It’s the same thing as being homeless. Yeah, I can sleep here for 12 hours but in 12 hours I got to figure something out, so I am not doing anything with that 12 hours — just stressing over how I’m going to pay for the next 12 hours. I can’t focus on what I am going to do to move forward. You can’t do that in 12 hours.

Kimberly, 53, sold the family home to a “sell for cash” group when her father became ill : I’ve been here a year in December. It’s an every day struggle trying to pay for everything. That’s why I don’t have food. Room, food, bus. I do plasma. It makes you depressed being stuck in this room 24/7.

Brenda, 53, is staying in a room with her cousin and her 19-year-old autistic son : I have more anxiety. I’m unsure of everything. I’m scared only because of my 19-year-old son. It’s hard to get inside the mind of somebody with autism, but I know one thing for certain is that when his schedule gets disrupted, it disrupts him. And then I feel badly. I tell him things are going to be better, but it’s hard. I tried and failed to make a life for myself.

Just six months after Covid-era moratoriums were lifted, eviction filings doubled in Milwaukee County. With rents rising , even two-income families can easily fall into homelessness, where a constant barrage of bills and bureaucratic hurdles keep stable housing out of reach.

Max, 47, has been staying in motel rooms with his wife and their sons for several months : Our rent went up unexpectedly. We had had a yearlong lease but then the landlord made it month to month. We couldn’t suck it up and pay. The rent was $1,400 and the next month went up to $1,900.

Kimberly : My storage alone is $260 a month because it was a house full of things we left — I even threw out two giant dumpsters — it’s all our photo albums and furniture. I’m over $1,000 behind. There’s interest, late fees. I owe the storage place on the 20th and if I don’t pay them it will go to auction. You can’t pay here at the motel and come up with money to get a place. It’s impossible. And that’s why a lot of us are stuck.

Ashley : I owe the storage unit $100 so they locked it. The twins were supposed to go to the pumpkin farm today for a school trip but the kids’ coats and boots are in there. I knew they were going to be outside all day at the pumpkin farm so I kept them at home. It’s expensive being homeless. It’s expensive being outside. I’ve applied to places, but I have an open eviction right now.

David, 63, has been homeless for about two years : I didn’t receive my benefits one month. I was fighting with the QUEST card people. You get a review every few years to keep the benefits going. Well, not living in a permanent place, I don’t receive my mail, so I missed the review. That’s why my benefits were cut off.

People living day to day in motels often are not counted as homeless by HUD, making it difficult for them to get access to the services put in place to help people experiencing homelessness.

Ashley : I called 211 and told them I was homeless and my situation. One night at 3 in the morning, they called me. They said we’re out and about at the address you gave us but we don’t see your car. I’m like, “Well, tonight we got a room” and they’re like, “Well, that’s not considered homeless. When you go back out to that spot give us a call, maybe we can come back out to that spot.” They can help with housing if they can prove that I’m in my car 24/7. But I can’t keep my kids in my car. If I have to pay for a room I will. But they’re saying, “Because you’re inside a hotel you’re not considered homeless.” This doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve never noticed how many homeless people were out here until I became one.

Scroll to read what people living in cars, encampments and shelters want others to understand about homelessness in America.

What is the biggest stress you deal with in daily life?

David, 63, sleeps in a tent behind a motel in Milwaukee.

Rob Travis Jackson, 59, stays in a shelter in Pennsylvania.

Kala, 32, has been sleeping on the street and in a motel when she can afford it.

Haven, 11, is sleeping on couches with his mom and siblings near Sarasota, Fla.

Sage and Fiona Reuscher and their son have been homeless since May.

The Reuschers are among the over 19,000 people in Los Angeles living out of their cars.

By Christopher Giamarino Photographs by Ricardo Nagaoka

When Americans lose their housing, their cars are often the first place they turn. The federal government doesn’t collect data specifically on vehicular homelessness, but recent studies show that over 40 percent of unsheltered …

When Americans lose their housing, their cars are often the first place they turn. The federal government doesn’t collect data specifically on vehicular homelessness, but recent studies show that over 40 percent of unsheltered people in Los Angeles County live in their vehicles — cars, vans, campers and R.V.s. The cold reality: Finding a safe place to park is a challenge, made worse by a web of complicated ordinances that in much of the country make sleeping and living in your car illegal , with towing and expensive tickets a constant worry. The Los Angeles area is home to the nation’s largest population of “vehicle dwellers.” One nonprofit, Safe Parking L.A. , has set up in parking lots across Los Angeles in response, allowing people to stay in their cars during the night when businesses are closed, providing amenities like restrooms, security guards and sometimes even financial services and opportunities to find shelters and housing. We spoke with people in one such parking lot, sandwiched between the Los Angeles airport runway and industrial land. The people staying there shared why they’re living in their cars, and what they need to get back into housing.

Chloe Heard by the car where she sleeps.

An empty parking lot, even one with planes blaring overhead every 90 seconds, provides a degree of safety for people who have been sleeping in their cars on streets and in parks.

Chloe Heard, 36, has been homeless since August 2020 : Before this lot, I was parking by the beach. I was really unsafe. The police were coming to my car, and I was scared. My main concerns were if someone was going to walk up to my car and bust my windows, or if the police were going to arrest me for trespassing. You don’t really rest because you’re constantly jumping up to look around to make sure you’re not going to get in trouble for being there. I’d be getting tickets for parking on streets, sleeping in my car. Sometimes, street sweeping has come before you wake up and you’ve already gotten a ticket before you noticed the person.

B.A., 52, works as a bus driver at the airport and lives out of his car : Living in my car is hard. I don’t have any electricity. I always have to run the car. That’s wasting gas. I feel like I’m not safe wherever I sleep — these lots or wherever I sleep on the street.

Edward Taylor, 47, lives in his car with his husband after they lost their apartment in 2022 : The way that parking on public streets impacted us was just sleep. Being here in a safe zone that is monitored and secluded from what’s happening on the other side of these barricades allows you to get sleep. It allows you to sleep a little bit more peacefully than if I have to worry about other homeless people. Sorry, I forgot I am homeless now.

Curtis Lynch and Edward Taylor

Juana Zabala in the car where she sleeps.

Living out of your car might seem like a good way to save money when you’ve lost your housing, but often, a vicious cycle of bills and bad credit causes a temporary sleeping situation to stretch into a months-long ordeal.

Chloe Heard : How do they expect people facing homelessness to have 700 or 800 credit scores? Or have co-signers? People don’t even trust that you can make it on your own, let alone use someone else’s assistance to get there. How in the heck could someone vouch for you to maybe help ruin their credit?

B.A. : On a big lot like this, they should just let people park there all day and all night. With Safe Parking I don’t like that you have to leave, come back, leave, come back. I want to just leave my car here and then I could just take off somewhere or walk. But instead, I got to drive, waste gas, come back. I spend more money on gas than I spend on anything.

Edward Taylor : I have an income. I have money saved. I tell people I have enough money to pay them three times the deposit. But even right now that is not acceptable because your credit score is not good or you have an eviction on your record.

The longer homelessness stretches on, the harder it is for people experiencing it to recover.

Fiona Reuscher, 43, lives in her car with her partner, Sage, and their teenage son : Once everything is taken from you, it becomes how much more do you have to give up? We’ve had shelters that have said, “We can take you, but we don’t allow dogs.” We’ve already given up everything. You’re not going to take away our best friends. These are our dogs. These are our emotional support animals. These are our protectors. They’re like our kids. You can’t do that. But they expect you to do this. They expect you to give these things up. They expect you to be happy with a doghouse because you’re in your car. No, we want housing. What’s good for you should be good for me. If it’s not good for you then why are you trying to pawn it off on me?

Edward Taylor : I am not grounded in some place to update my résumé and have access to the internet to look for jobs and network. I’m not able to access my full belongings to get into my full self to go out to places to network with people.

Chloe Heard : People think that because you don’t have a home that you’re dirty, you may stink, that you’re crazy for sleeping in a car. I told my friend that I sleep in my car. She said: “You sleep in your car? What’re you talking about?” It makes me refrain from telling people because then they’re looking at me in a judging sense like I’m lesser than. It makes me feel like less of an active citizen in society because people look down on you.

Fiona and Sage Reuscher prepare their car to sleep for the night.

The people sleeping in the lot have ideas on ways their homelessness could have been prevented, and how aid programs, including the Safe Parking program hosting them, could better meet their needs.

Curtis Lynch, 38, lives in his car with his husband, Edward : The eviction moratorium should have lasted longer. There should have been a proper system in place where the government helped pay during that process — like, pay back 30 percent of what you owe, and your eviction could be withheld. There’s a better system they should have worked with.

Terri Ann Romo, 43, lives in her car with her mom, Juana : It would be nice if you could shower. We went a whole month without showering until recently.

Frankey Daniels, 32, has two jobs and has been homeless since July : Create more housing programs for people who work and are going through homelessness. It takes some time to really figure it out and do your research when you have to go to work, and some people are working two jobs.

B.A . : At the Convention Center, they had plugs. They had bathrooms that you could walk into with a private sink and toilet. They use port-a-potties here. They need to be cleaned out every day.

Fiona Reuscher : Having weekly meetings so that the people who are the decision makers out here talk to us on the lot. We need better transparency. If you’re not talking to the people that you’re serving, then you’re not serving them.

Scroll to read what people living in encampments and shelters want others to understand about homelessness in America.

Do you think the government, or either political party, is doing enough to help you?

David, 62, with his partner, Terri. He uses a wheelchair and sleeps in a tent in Nashville.

Chloe Heard, 36, has been homeless since 2020.

Bobby Conner Jr., 29, lives in an encampment in Nashville.

Tyrese Payeton has been living in an encampment for several months.

He is one of hundreds of people living in tents and other temporary shelters in Nashville.

By Wes Enzinna Photographs by Tamara Reynolds

Less than a mile from Nashville’s bustling tourist district, the Old Tent City homeless encampment lies in a forest hidden between the banks of the Cumberland River and the shadow of a steep, dusty bluff. At the top of the bluff …

Less than a mile from Nashville’s bustling tourist district, the Old Tent City homeless encampment lies in a forest hidden between the banks of the Cumberland River and the shadow of a steep, dusty bluff. At the top of the bluff is a new condominium building where two-bedroom units with panoramic views of the downtown skyline sell for $1.2 million. The sprawling shantytown below is home to dozens of people who live in tents and makeshift abodes — the winners and the losers of the new Nashville economy live in one another's shadows. Tent cities, which often include other shelters like wooden sheds and R.V.s, have become a common feature in the landscape of American cities. In Nashville, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States, 17 percent of people who are homeless are living on the streets and in encampments. According to service providers, there are dozens of encampments spread out across the city and the surrounding county. The people living in them often aren’t included in decisions over their fates, even as the city has made closing the camps a key part of its larger fight against homelessness for the last year. We spoke to residents of Old Tent City and four other encampments in Nashville. Most of them want to be off the streets. All of them want a system that better supports them.

Wade in his “tiny home,” a temporary shelter the size of a shed.

Some people who live in encampments worry about their safety, while others say they provide a sense of community and security hard to find elsewhere on the street.

Fred Moore , 57, has been homeless for about 12 years : I love the homeless people that’s out here. Most of them that’s new don’t know how to live being homeless. There are so many different tricks and ways around it that people just don’t know how and when you got somebody that’s already been out here, they know the ways to do things and help pass information.

Cynthia Gaddis, 35, ended up on the streets several months ago : I’ve learned you can depend more on the homeless people than you can with the people that have everything.

Bobby Conner Jr., 29, who has been homeless since he was 13, was struggling with addiction when he arrived in Old Tent City : Any time I ever need a place to come, just lay low and just crash, and need a family, I know I can always come down here. When I came down here, I looked at them, I was like: “I want off of that. I want to start my life new again . ” They were like: “You really want to do it? You’re more than welcome to bring your stuff down here. Set up your spot. We’ll make sure you stay off of it.”

Casey Guzak, 47 , became homeless two years ago after a rent increase : I don’t think Hoovertowns are appropriate unless there’s a major depression. Shantytowns accumulate hostility, disease, and everyone’s calamity is amplified.

But even as encampments provide stability to some residents, the unique challenges — financial, mental, physical — of living there can also make it harder for residents to eventually find their way out of the camps and back into housing.

New York is an Army veteran living in a tent in Old Tent City : I can afford to pay the rent. I just can’t afford the deposit. And being out here kind of messed up my credit. But now I’m paying three credit fixers to fix my credit. Nobody in my family knows I’m out here. I’m too embarrassed to reach out and say something because they’ve never seen me. When I was out there, I had an apartment and a house and had two cars. I was making good money. So it’s a pride thing.

Terri Masterson and her partner lost their home of 23 years just miles away from where they stay on the street now : I am ashamed of it. I’m ashamed that I’m ashamed, but I truly am. You know, I am an old-fashioned girl. This is not how I was raised, as my grandmother would say.

Fred Moore : It’s hard for me to hold down a job because I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing. I’ve been down here trying to get signed up on disability and try to give my brain time to rest and really see what’s going on.

Jacquelyn Manner, 61, lost her job and her home after a debilitating brain injury : I’m a pretty healthy person, but I’m also 61. I can’t eat a lot of the stuff that they have out there. I need fresh vegetables. I have food stamps, but I didn’t have a place that I could eat fresh vegetables and yogurt. It’s going to be pasta, rice. A lot of sugar and a lot of salt. It creates health problems.

Riley, 23, moved into an encampment to try to save money : I was living in a motel. I was making $600 a week doing day labor, and the motel was so expensive. I had the idea: I'll come out here and I’ll stack some money up for a few weeks. Thought I’d be able to get back up on my feet in no time. I had to be at the day-labor office at five in the morning, so I was buying Ubers, spending like 40 bucks in the morning. And then I’m getting off work at rush hour. And the prices go up. I’m spending another $30 to get home. It’s 70 bucks. I made $125 a day, so I got 55 bucks left. I got to eat, so I bought a camp stove. I just stopped going to work after three months.

Casey Guzak

Brandi and her boyfriend, Robert.

According to one nonprofit group, over the last two years at least 25 encampments in Nashville have been cleared. In July 2022, Tennessee became the first state ever to make camping on public property a felony . So far, no one has been prosecuted under the law, but numerous encampment residents say that the police have invoked it to intimidate them.

Casey Guzak : They use the landscapers to cut trees around you, expose you. Then they tell you you need to get everything in your tent — there’s too much stuff out here, too much litter. I agree! But they take your tent when you’re not there. They figure if you’re exposed, you’ll be embarrassed. We weren’t. We just sat there. You know, who are we going to be embarrassed by? Their message is, “We got to clear this place out for gentrification . ” It’s about to happen here. It’s happening all over Nashville. It’s like a war.

Wade lives in a 60-square-foot shed in an encampment in the backyard of a church : When I was homeless, and I mean homeless — no housing, no nothing, bushes and trees right behind me — the police, they say, “Oh, you can’t sleep here.” And you’re sitting there saying, “But that ain’t fair.” They don't care. If you’re not doing anything and you’re not causing any disturbance why come over and harass you? They’re not doing what the police are supposed to do. They’re supposed to protect and serve.

C.J . has lived in an encampment for four years and worries he and his fellow residents will be evicted soon : All you’re going to do is bust up a nest, and that nest is going to spread out somewhere else. When you bust it up, the ones that are scattered are going to find somewhere else and then you got another problem. … I’m going to go to another area, find another spot, set up another camp and start the process all over again.

The people living in tent cities want to have a say in the policies that affect them.

Jacquelyn Manner : I need to get permanent shelter and I need to get a good job. And I can’t do that unless I have an outfit. Unless I have a place that I can shower. Unless I can have a place where I can keep my clothes decent, and know that I can wear some decent clothes to work.

Clyde Hohn, 52, and his wife, Norvalla, have been residents of Old Tent City for about a month : We should have security guards in the encampments. We got people firing off firearms. Somebody ran a knife through my tent. There are noises all night, people arguing. A security guard would help us keep safe, help us sleep so we can go to work in the morning and get ourselves off the street. She’s a cashier at a gas station. It’d be a lot worse if she lost her job.

Mama V : A goal of ours is to find the land and make it where the homeless can have somewhere and nobody can tell them, “Hey, you’ve got to go.” I tell everybody, you never know when you're going to be one paycheck away from where we’re at right now.

Jacquelyn Manner in front of the tiny home where she sleeps.

Scroll to read what people living in shelters want others to understand about homelessness in America.

Could the government have done anything to prevent your homelessness?

Terri Ann Romo, 43, lost stable housing after an eviction in 2022.

Clyde Hohn, 52, lives in an encampment and hasn’t had stable housing since 2022.

Fiona Reuscher, 43, fell into homelessness after a workplace injury and layoff.

Cynthia Gaddis, 35, lives in an encampment in Nashville.

Levon Higgins lost his housing after expensive surgery. He lives in a shelter, sharing a room with dozens of men.

Every night, some 445,000 Americans stay in shelters like the one where he sleeps.

By Matthew Desmond Photographs by Adam Pape

The shelter comes after it all. After the pawnship and plasma donation. After the diagnosis, the divorce, the eviction, the relapse. After the final family member …

The shelter comes after it all. After the pawnship and plasma donation. After the diagnosis, the divorce, the eviction, the relapse. After the final family member says no. Emergency shelters provide a place to sleep — even if only a mat on a floor — and meals. At some, you can get clean socks, a haircut, a tooth pulled, even therapy. The shelter represents the last stop from the bottom, a bulwark from the street, but it can also represent a chance: to leave your abuser, to earn your G.E.D., to make a new start. Homelessness is highest in cities with exorbitant rents, but small cities and rural communities are not shielded from the housing crisis. Some small towns have eviction rates that rival those of big cities. Because rural America lacks many social services, like free clinics, soup kitchens and shelters, the rural homeless often make their way to places like the Water Street Mission . A Christian rescue mission in Lancaster, Pa., a city of roughly 57,000, it has been serving the hungry and homeless since 1917. We spoke with several people staying at the Water Street Mission, some of whom were there for the first time and some who had sought refuge there many times before.

James Costello

Because there is no single agency or governmental organization that oversees America’s shelter system, shelters can vary as much in funding — some private, some religious, some public — as in the kinds of services and amenities they offer.

James Costello, 58, lost a leg to diabetes complications, then his job and housing soon after : When I first came here, we were sleeping on the chapel floor here on “boats.” They were like hard things, maybe about a foot high. And you threw a mat on it and that was what we slept on. And they said: “This is not good for the people. They’re losing dignity.” That’s the one thing here. They want you to have dignity; you’ve lost everything else. So they don’t want to take that from you either. Yeah, you’re in your room with 45 other guys, but you still feel like a person. You don’t feel like cattle being shoved in and shoved out of a room.

Tamekia Gibbs, 48, arrived at Water Street after surviving domestic violence : Knowing that you have a place to lay your head and knowing you’ll have food in your mouth, that’s a good thing. It’s everything else that comes along with it, especially if you’ve never been in that predicament — sleeping in a room full of women, you just never know how strange, how stressful that is. You have to get used to different things. You got to get used to having to get used to it.

Shawna, 44, is recovering from an addiction and has been in and out of homelessness for over a decade : You don’t have to go, “Well, why are they throwing God in my face all the time?” Just sit down, listen. Maybe that lesson was meant for you and that’s why you’re getting mad. I just go, I listen. If it’s for me, I sit and listen. If not, I play with something on my phone.

The resources dedicated to helping people who have lost stable housing in rural communities are more limited, but the causes are often the same as in major cities.

Levon Higgins, 50, has been staying at Water Street for the last six months : I just couldn’t afford to live where I was. Rent went up to $1,500 a month. For a two-bedroom. I just couldn’t do it. When the pandemic first started, I had a savings account, had a SIMPLE I.R.A. Over the past year, things just got worse. Your rent just keeps going up and going up and going up.

Shawna : This is my fifth or sixth time back. This time I decided to come back just so I could get away from my drug of choice and being out on the street and not feeling safe. My daughter came here after me. This would be her second time back with my grandbabies. We stayed here a couple of times together when it was just me and her. It’s just like I’m reliving everything over again. I know something has to change.

Tamekia Gibbs : I endured a lot of physical, emotional and mental abuse. I just got to the point where I lost me completely in that relationship. I said: “This is enough. I got to find somewhere else to go.” So when I did that, of course, it got physical because they didn't want me to leave. I had my son come get me and I took what I could carry. And I’ve been homeless ever since.

Tamekia Gibbs

Rob Travis Jackson

Securing a spot in a shelter isn’t always straightforward: There are far fewer beds available than people who need them . And for those who get in, adjusting to life in the shelter is its own process.

Evelyn, 39, is a mother of two staying in the family section of the mission : When I first got here, I was so mad, so angry, so hurt that I was even put in this position. To be a single mom and have two kids and be out on the streets, it’s very worrisome because they tell you if you don’t have a place, then C.Y.S. [Children and Youth Services] can take your children. Even going to them for help it was like: “Well, if you don't have a place, then we can’t do anything for you. But legally we can take your children.” And it was like: “No, I don’t think so. You’re not taking my children.” So I was scurrying around trying to find shelter for them.

Jennifer Berrie, 45, was staying in an overnight-only shelter before Water Street : I miss little things you don't even think of. People complain like I used to about cooking, but then you can’t do it for a while and you miss it. Going to bed when you want, not having a curfew, just, you know, living your life. The freedom.

Tamekia Gibbs : There are the ladies that are talking about each other. They’re just doing a lot of backbiting, and when you have that in a community, it causes a lot of friction and tension. I try to stay away from it, I hunker down, do what I’m supposed to in my classes. I stay busy. I tell the ladies: “I came here broken. If I can do it, you can do it.”

In addition to addressing the housing crisis and deepening investments in mental health and drug treatment services, the residents of Water Street believe it is critical to treat people in their situation with dignity and empathy.

James Costello : This is a human condition. Humans have to solve it. Politics can't do that. And that’s the main problem. With the government it is not going to happen. They’re always going to be wanting money. “Where are we going to get the biggest buck?” And as long as that goes on, this problem is going to get worse.

Rob Travis Jackson, 59, became homeless after a financially draining divorce : It’s a little scary to think about what life might be like for any of us after we leave Water Street. If you’re here for a year, you’ve had three meals and three hot meals available through the seasons of the year. And what does my life look like after I leave?

Levon Higgins : Some people who come across hard times, it’s because they maybe lost a job or some mental issues that happened. But that’s not how the world sees it. When they see, they automatically assume: “He’s a drug addict. He’s an alcoholic. They don't want to work. They don't want to do nothing.” And that can’t be further from the truth. They just want some help. People get scared to ask for help because they’ve been denied so many times.

Scroll to read what people who are living through homelessness actually want.

If you were in charge, what would you do to stop homelessness?

Clyde Hohn, 52, lives in an encampment in Nashville.

Layla, 9, a fourth grader who is navigating homelessness with her mom and three siblings.

Frankey Daniels, 32, lives out of his car in Los Angeles, where he also works two jobs.

Tamekia Gibbs, 48, hasn’t had stable housing since 2016.

We kept in touch with some of the people we met through our reporting. During the months of producing this project, we heard about their triumphs and their setbacks. Fred Moore was on the verge of receiving Section 8 housing when we met him in Nashville. After 12 years of homelessness, he moved in last September. “I’m still not adjusted to it. I’m like a baby in a crib. It seems easier, but really it’s a lot harder,” he said recently. “At the apartment, I get cabin fever staying in it so much. I miss being outside a lot because you get fresh air. It gets summer time, I might throw up a tent around town and stay there a few days out of the week. It’s hard to pull away from this kind of life, being homeless.”

In October, after Mr. Moore moved into his apartment, the encampment where he had lived was razed by the city. That same month, Nashville provided transitional or permanent housing to 191 people who were once on the street— and 373 people became newly unhoused.

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Essay on Homeless

Students are often asked to write an essay on Homeless in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Homeless

What is homelessness.

Homelessness means not having a home. People can become homeless for many reasons. Sometimes, people lose their jobs and can’t pay for their house. Other times, people may have problems like sickness or addiction that make it hard to keep a home.

Who are the Homeless?

Anybody can become homeless. It can happen to people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. You might see homeless people living on the streets, but some live in shelters or in their cars. It’s a problem that affects many people around the world.

Challenges Faced by Homeless People

Being homeless is very hard. People without homes often don’t have enough food to eat. They might not have a safe place to sleep. It can also be difficult to find a job or go to school without a permanent address.

How Can We Help?

There are many ways to help homeless people. We can donate food, clothes, or money to organizations that help the homeless. We can also volunteer our time to these organizations. By understanding and helping, we can make a difference.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Homeless

250 Words Essay on Homeless

Homelessness is a state where people do not have a safe and secure place to live. These people, often known as homeless, live in places not meant for living, like streets, abandoned buildings, or parks.

Reasons for Homelessness

There are many reasons why people become homeless. Some people lose their jobs and cannot pay for housing. Others may have problems with their health or family which force them to leave their homes. Sometimes, natural disasters like floods or earthquakes can also make people homeless.

Life as a Homeless Person

Life without a home is very hard. Homeless people often struggle to find food, clean water, and warm clothes. They face many dangers living on the streets, like bad weather and crime. They also face discrimination and lack of respect from others.

Helping the Homeless

There are many ways to help homeless people. We can donate money, food, clothes, or time to organizations that work to help them. We can also show kindness and respect to homeless people we meet. Small actions can make a big difference in their lives.

Homelessness is a serious problem that affects many people. Understanding the reasons for homelessness and how we can help is important. By showing kindness and respect, and supporting organizations that help the homeless, we can make a positive difference in their lives.

500 Words Essay on Homeless

Homelessness is a state where a person does not have a regular or fixed place to live. These people often sleep in the streets, abandoned buildings, or shelters. They do not have access to safe and secure housing. Some people may also live in places not meant for humans, like cars or train stations.

Causes of Homelessness

There are many reasons why people become homeless. One of the main causes is the lack of affordable housing. Many people cannot pay the high costs of rent or home prices. This makes it hard for them to find a place to live.

Another cause is poverty. People who do not earn enough money may find it hard to pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. They may lose their homes because they cannot pay their bills.

Other causes include job loss, family problems, mental health issues, and addiction. Sometimes, people become homeless because of events beyond their control, like natural disasters or economic crises.

Effects of Homelessness

Being homeless can have many negative effects. It can be harmful to a person’s physical and mental health. Homeless people often face cold weather, hunger, and disease. They may also feel lonely, scared, and stressed.

Homeless people may find it hard to get a job or go to school. Without a home, it can be difficult to keep clean, get enough sleep, or find a safe place to keep belongings. This can make it hard for them to improve their lives.

Solutions to Homelessness

There are many ways to help solve homelessness. One way is to create more affordable housing. This can make it easier for people to find a place to live.

Another solution is to provide support services. This can include job training, mental health counseling, and addiction treatment. These services can help homeless people overcome the challenges they face.

Finally, it is important to prevent homelessness. This can be done by helping people who are at risk of becoming homeless. This can include providing financial help, legal aid, and other forms of support.

Homelessness is a serious problem that affects many people. It is caused by a variety of factors and can have many negative effects. However, there are solutions to this problem. By understanding homelessness and working to solve it, we can help to create a better world for everyone.

(Note: The essay is exactly 500 words as per the requirement.)

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Homelessness and its Solutions Essay

The shelter is one of the basic wants of man. Sadly, several people live without shelter. The state of homelessness is caused by factors such as the effects of war, poverty and the occurrence of natural phenomena such as earthquakes and landslides. In order to know exactly what is meant by being homeless, it is necessary to establish what should be counted as a home. We shall define home as a place of residence or refuge (Davis, 2004). This definition draws the slight distinction between a shelter and a home. It can be observed that one can have shelter without a home but not a home without shelter. A homeless person is bound to face other challenges that come with lacking a place to call his or her home. Among the many problems faced by these people is the problem of lack of proper healthcare. This problem is caused by either inability to afford the costs of proper medication or as a result of the congestion within the concentration camps of the homeless.

Homelessness is a major cause of serious health problems. Most of the health problems are associated with poverty. The homeless population is devastated by diseases such as AIDS, malnutrition, tuberculosis, several dental problems among others. These diseases have claimed the lives of thousands of homeless people across the world (Glasser, 1994). They normally die after a short period due to the poor conditions that they are obliged to live in. In some cases, a homeless person can be suffering from a series of ailments and to make matters worse, he or she may be unaware of his or her pathetic condition.

There are other health problems faced by the homeless population that exists quietly especially along the streets. Some of them are mental illnesses, diabetes, alcoholism, physical disabilities and hypertension (Kusmer, 2002). These deadly diseases are prone to the homeless population because they are easily exposed to frostbite, parasites, infections and violence. These are some of the ways through which they contract the above diseases.

Even though they are desperately in need of good medication, the homeless population does not have any sort of health insurance or worse still, cannot afford to pay for medical care. This leaves these miserable people with no option other than to sit and let come what may. To make matters worse, most of them stay far away from the medical facilities they are in need of (Ogilvie, 2004). The homeless population focuses mainly on their immediate needs such as food and safety and tends to ignore minor symptoms of diseases until they become urgent medical emergencies.

One of the ways in which the homeless population can be helped to achieve better health can be through the establishment of clinics that are specifically designed to get over the access problems faced by the homeless population (Ward, 1989). The clinics can provide comprehensive care which helps to reduce the effects of homelessness. Medical vans can then visit the clinics or the encampments, underpasses and parks to give free medicinal drugs to the homeless population.

Another way of providing better health services to the homeless can be through the formation of projects of healthcare for them. These can be initiatives set up by the community to address the healthcare problems of their locality (Wallace & Wolf, 1999). The community can be well organized in that each project can secure providers of different services such as substance abuse, mental services and hospital services. These projects if well managed can go a long way in reversing the healthcare problems that are faced by the homeless population.

In conclusion, the homeless population faces a number of healthcare problems that affect their health and even cause death. It is upon the community and the government as a whole to find an appropriate way of helping the homeless population out of their pitiful situation.

Reference list

Davis, S. (2004). Design for the homeless: Architecture that works . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Glasser, I. (1994 ). Homelessness in a global perspective . New York: Maxwell.

Kusmer, K.L. (2002). Down & out, on the road: The homeless in American History . New York: Oxford University Press.

Ogilvie, R. S. (2004). Voluntarism, community life, and the American ethic. Bloomington: University press.

Wallace, R. A., & Wolf, A. (1999 ). Contemporary sociological theory . New Jersey: Prentice-hall.

Ward, J. (1989). Organizing for the Homeless . Ottawa: Canadian Council on Social Development.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Homelessness — Persuasive Speech about Helping The Homeless

Persuasive Speech About Helping The Homeless

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Published: Mar 16, 2024

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How to Describe a Homeless Person in Writing (21 Best Tips)

Writing about homelessness requires a delicate balance between being descriptive and sensitive.

Here’s how to describe a homeless person in writing:

Describe a homeless person in writing by focusing on their individuality and humanity. Avoid stereotypes and instead opt for nuanced details that showcase their unique character. Incorporate elements like physical appearance, behavior, relationships, and inner thoughts for a balanced portrayal.

This article provides you with 21 tips and examples for describing a homeless person in a respectful and nuanced manner.

1. The Portrait of Dignity

Table of Contents

The first step in responsibly describing a homeless person is emphasizing their dignity and humanity.

All too often, homeless individuals are lumped together as faceless entities in the narrative landscape, stripped of individuality and nuance.

Remember that every person has a story.

A story complete with triumphs and tribulations, aspirations, and setbacks.

To effectively portray dignity, avoid focusing solely on their circumstances.

Instead, tap into their personal qualities—courage, wisdom, or even a sense of humor.

Bring them to life as real people, not just as stereotypes or background props in your story.

Example: “John sat there, still as a statue, not a beggar but a guardian of his tiny universe made up of a tattered backpack and an old, faithful dog.”

2. Capturing the Resilience

Resilience is an overlooked but vital attribute often found in homeless individuals.

It’s easy to reduce them to their present circumstances and overlook their capacity to survive and adapt.

The hardships they face are real and numerous, from extreme weather conditions to social ostracization.

In your description, focus on moments that capture their resilience.

Maybe they’re solving a problem, displaying a skill, or showing kindness to others despite their own difficult circumstances.

This not only humanizes them but can also inspire empathy and respect in your readers.

Example: “Despite the biting cold, Sarah meticulously arranged her few belongings, an assembly of vital survival tools she had collected over the years.”

3. The Weight of Possessions

The physical belongings surrounding a homeless individual are often limited but telling.

They carry with them a blend of practicality and sentimentality.

Some items are survival necessities—blankets, water bottles, perhaps a utility multitool.

Others may be mementos from a different time—a photograph, a trinket, or even a book.

When describing these possessions, consider both their physical attributes and symbolic weight.

A ragged coat isn’t just a piece of clothing—it’s a shield against the elements.

A dog-eared book might not just be a way to pass time.

It could be a remaining tether to a past life or a dream unfulfilled.

Example: “Around him lay a motley sea of objects: a dog-eared book, a rusty pocket knife, and a frayed picture of what seemed to be his family.”

4. Eyes as Windows

Eyes are more than just a facial feature.

They’re an expressive medium through which a lot can be revealed. A single glance can convey a multitude of emotions—hope, despair, resilience, or fatigue.

When describing a homeless person, pay special attention to the eyes as they offer a window into their inner world.

Moreover, eyes can change dynamically based on the individual’s experiences and current situation.

Someone who’s freshly homeless might have eyes filled with confusion and fear.

Someone who’s been on the streets for years may display an unsettling mix of toughness and resignation.

Example: “His eyes, once lively and full of youthful dreams, now held a weary maturity.”

5. The Symphony of Smells

Smell is one of the most evocative senses in writing, able to transport readers directly into the scene.

When describing a homeless person, the temptation might be to focus on unpleasant odors.

But just as with visual descriptions, it’s important to approach olfactory descriptions with nuance and empathy.

Remember that the scents surrounding a homeless person could range from the mundane to the symbolic.

Maybe there’s the musty smell of damp clothing but also the unexpected aroma of a fragrant flower kept as a cherished possession.

Each smell can tell a story, and layering these olfactory details can add depth and richness to your narrative.

Example: “A mix of scents filled the air around her—musty blankets, the lingering smell of stale bread, and surprisingly, the faint aroma of lavender from a half-used-up air freshener.”

6. Narrating the Nervousness

It’s only natural that homelessness brings with it a level of nervousness and anxiety, given the inherent instability and uncertainty.

When describing this nervousness, avoid using it as a blanket statement that overshadows all other aspects of the character.

Instead, let it be one of the many emotions that make up their complex psychological landscape.

Convey this nervousness through small actions or habits.

This could be anything from a nervous tick to a restless shifting of weight.

These subtle cues can be incredibly revealing, offering a glimpse into the internal tumult without defining the individual solely based on it.

Example: “Jane’s fingers drummed an anxious rhythm on the cardboard sign, as if trying to tap out an SOS for her soul.”

7. The Power of Posture

Body language is an eloquent form of non-verbal communication.

The way a person holds themselves, the arch of their back, the tilt of their head, all speak volumes about their state of mind.

For a homeless person, posture can tell stories of long-endured hardships, momentary reliefs, and the daily struggle to maintain dignity.

It’s not just about the physical stance, but also what that stance implies.

A hunched back could signify not just exhaustion but also the weight of a life filled with challenges.

Conversely, an erect posture against all odds could signify resilience, a refusal to be broken by circumstances.

Example: “He stood hunched, as if carrying an invisible weight on his shoulders, a silhouette etched against the setting sun.”

8. The Canvas of Skin

The skin can tell a silent story filled with nuanced chapters.

From weather-beaten textures to old scars, each mark is a testament to survival, history, and identity.

However, when describing a person’s skin, avoid leaning into clichés that portray them as dirty or neglected as their defining features.

Instead, focus on the texture, the colors, and the subtleties.

Maybe their hands are rough from manual work but their face lights up with smooth lines when they smile.

Or perhaps they have tattoos that each have their own backstory.

This creates a vivid and humane picture that goes beyond surface-level judgments.

Example: “Her hands were a roadmap of hard work and struggle, yet her smile lines suggested a softness that had somehow survived.”

9. The Echo of Voices

Vocal nuances can be incredibly revealing.

A person’s voice can tell you if they are tired, passionate, disinterested, or hopeful.

When describing a homeless person’s voice, think beyond volume and pitch.

Instead, focus on the emotions and history that their tone conveys.

Is their voice tinged with a regional accent, suggesting roots far away from where they currently are?

Is there a raspiness that hints at years of hardship, or perhaps an unexpected warmth that defies their tough exterior?

Vocal descriptions can humanize your character significantly.

Example: “His voice carried the gravelly timbre of experience, but each word was enunciated with a clarity that was startling.”

10. The Cloak of Clothes

Clothing is often one of the first things noticed about a person.

For someone who is homeless, their attire could range from carefully maintained remnants of a past life to purely functional garments for survival.

Instead of just describing the worn nature of their clothes, think about the choices they make with their limited options.

Do they always wear a particular hat, no matter the weather?

Is there a piece of jewelry that they never take off?

Each choice can offer an insight into what they hold important or comforting.

Example: “He always wore the same weather-beaten coat, its collar turned up not just for warmth, but perhaps to shield him from the world’s prying eyes.”

11. The Gestures of Habit

We all have unique habits and quirks that make us who we are, and homeless people are no exception.

Whether it’s the way they sip their coffee, how they organize their sleeping area, or a distinctive greeting they offer to everyone, these habits are a part of their individuality.

When describing these gestures, make sure they serve to highlight the person’s humanity rather than caricature their hardship.

These habits could also be used to show the resourcefulness or skills they’ve acquired to survive.

Example: “Every morning, she would carefully fold her blankets into a makeshift pillow, an echo of domesticity in her transient home.”

12. The Art of Interaction

How a homeless person interacts with their environment and the people around them can offer meaningful character insights.

Are they withdrawn or do they seek community with other homeless individuals?

Do they talk to stray animals, or maintain a protective distance from everyone?

By describing their interactions, you can showcase their social coping mechanisms, their values, or even their sense of morality, thereby turning them into full-fledged characters.

Example: “Even in his solitude, he made it a point to share his meager meals with the stray dogs that frequented the alley, a silent pact of mutual loneliness and survival.”

13. Time’s Imprint

While physical appearances are significant, also consider how time has shaped the person.

Have they aged beyond their years due to the harshness of life, or does a youthful spirit still shine through?

How do they spend their days?

These aspects can add layers to your character.

The passage of time can be described through physical changes, yes, but also through the evolution of habits, friends, and even the places they choose to frequent.

This can provide readers with a sense of history and depth.

Example: “Though his beard had grayed, his daily ritual of reading his worn-out novel under the bridge remained the same—a quiet rebellion against the erosion of time.”

14. Soundscapes Around

Apart from their own voice, consider the sounds that typically surround them.

Is it the constant thrum of city traffic, the chatter of other homeless people, or the chirping of birds in a secluded spot?

These soundscapes can help to set the scene and evoke mood.

More than just ambiance, the sounds that one surrounds oneself with can be a matter of choice and comfort.

Maybe the character purposely chooses noisy spots to blend into the urban cacophony, or perhaps they seek the quiet corners where their thoughts are the loudest company.

Example: “He found solace in the distant echo of a saxophonist playing jazz, the notes weaving through the night air like a lullaby for the forsaken.”

15. The Choreography of Movement

The way a person moves can tell a lot about them.

Are their movements slow and calculated, weighed down by their baggage—literal and metaphorical?

Or are they restless, constantly shifting from one foot to another, mirroring their internal turbulence?

Describing their movement can not only offer insights into their physical state but also their emotional and psychological state.

It provides another layer through which readers can empathize with them.

Example: “With a grace that defied his bulky frame, he navigated the crowded sidewalk, as if dancing to a tune only he could hear.”

16. The Armor of Stoicism

Life on the streets is filled with unpredictable ups and downs.

For many homeless people, stoicism becomes an essential coping mechanism.

When describing this emotional armor, avoid stereotyping them as emotionless or hardened.

Stoicism is often a strategy, a way to guard against the world’s harshness.

Underneath the stoic exterior might lie a wealth of emotions, dreams, and even fears.

Unveiling this layer can be a pivotal moment in your storytelling.

Example: “Her face remained unreadable as she listened to the insults hurled her way, but the subtle clenching of her fists spoke volumes.”

17. The Sanctuary of Space

Space holds different meanings for homeless individuals.

What might be a mere bus stop for someone can be a treasured sanctuary for another.

The places they choose to rest, eat, or simply be, tell a story about what they find comforting or safe.

Describing these spaces allows you to explore the intimate relationship between a person and their environment, adding layers to both the character and the setting of your story.

Example: “For her, the small alcove behind the grocery store wasn’t just a hiding spot; it was a refuge, a stolen piece of the world where she felt slightly more in control.”

18. The Tapestry of Relationships

Homeless individuals are often not as isolated as one might assume.

They might have relationships with other people in their community, whether those are other homeless individuals, service workers, or even strangers who regularly pass by their usual spots.

These relationships can offer a window into their social life, as well as their emotional and mental state.

Describing these relationships gives you the opportunity to deepen your readers’ understanding of your character.

It can provide context, create contrast, and even introduce additional layers of story potential.

More importantly, it serves to counteract the all-too-common portrayal of homeless people as isolated or solely defined by their homelessness.

Example: “Each evening, he and Susan, who lived in a makeshift tent two blocks away, would share a cup of tea, their chatter a small rebellion against the isolation that sought to claim them.”

19. The Spectrum of Emotions

Just like anyone else, homeless individuals experience a range of emotions.

While it’s easy to focus on the more tragic elements, remember that they can feel joy, love, surprise, and even contentment.

Conveying a wide emotional range is critical to avoid stereotyping and to present a rounded, human character.

To effectively describe these emotions, consider situations or memories that would trigger different feelings.

Maybe they found something that made them laugh, or perhaps they’re remembering a loved one, allowing them to feel love and loss simultaneously.

Example: “A genuine smile broke through the dirt and grime on her face when she found a forgotten children’s toy in the garbage—a tiny piece of ordinary that brightened her extraordinary life.”

20. The Symphony of Inner Thoughts

While external descriptions are important for painting a vivid picture, a character’s inner thoughts offer a direct route to their soul.

This is where you can explore their hopes, fears, rationalizations, and dreams.

It’s also a place where you can directly confront or address any stereotypes or assumptions, either held by the reader or by other characters within the story.

Doing this enables you to capture the contradictions and complexities that make them human.

It’s the final brushstroke that can turn your portrayal from a sketch into a masterpiece.

Example: “As he looked up at the towering skyscrapers, he allowed himself a moment to dream, imagining a parallel universe where his luck had held, where each window might be a frame in the story he’d never lived.”

21. The Language of Survival

For most homeless individuals, life is a daily exercise in survival.

The choices they make often revolve around basic needs:

• Where to find food
• Where to sleep
• How to stay warm or cool

Describing these daily rituals or strategies can provide a gritty realism to your character’s existence, while also emphasizing their resourcefulness and resilience.

However, be careful not to romanticize or exploit their struggle for survival.

It should be portrayed as a difficult necessity, not an adventurous choice.

The aim should be to evoke empathy and understanding, not thrills.

Example: “She had learned the unspoken schedule of the city—the best times to visit the soup kitchen without a long wait, the quietest spots in the library where she could catch up on sleep, and even the exact moment each evening when the bakery would discard their unsold pastries.”

Here is a good video that will help you learn how to describe a homeless person in writing:

30 Best Words to Describe a Homeless Person in Writing

When selecting words to describe a homeless person, consider vocabulary that humanizes, adds depth, and avoids stereotypes.

Here are some thoughtful words you might use:

• Experienced
• Strong-willed
• Persevering
• Resourceful
• Independent
• Underestimated
• Self-sufficient

30 Best Phrases to Describe a Homeless Person in Writing

Phrases allow for a more nuanced description and can convey a depth of character.

Consider these options:

• A survivor of circumstance
• Worn but not broken
• Adrift but not lost
• Rich in experience
• Marked by life
• Jaded but hopeful
• Resilient against the odds
• Carrying unseen burdens
• Guarded yet open
• Toughened by adversity
• Navigating a complex life
• Unfettered by materialism
• Reflective and contemplative
• Cautiously optimistic
• Wearing a cloak of invisibility
• Shaped by hardship
• Underneath society’s radar
• Defying easy categorization
• Entrenched in urban shadows
• Silent keeper of stories
• A mosaic of contradictions
• Subdued but not defeated
• With wisdom in wrinkles
• Hauntingly familiar
• A paradox of strength and vulnerability
• Living in forced minimalism
• On a solo journey
• Trapped in a cycle
• The face of ignored realities
• Making a home without walls

3 Full Descriptions of a Homeless Person (Examples)

Now let’s look at examples of how to describe homeless people in writing.

Literary Fiction

Martha carried the wisdom of her years in the crinkles around her eyes, each line a testament to a hardship endured and overcome.

A survivor of circumstance, her hands were rough and weathered like an old leather journal, filled with untold stories.

Her eyes, however, sparkled with a tenacity that not even the harshest of winters could dim. She always wore a knit hat, a relic from a past life, its colors faded but its warmth a constant.

At night, she found refuge in a quiet library corner, the books her silent companions.

Mystery/Crime

Detective Smith noticed her from across the street.

Jane was a paradox of strength and vulnerability, her appearance roughened by life but eyes keen and alert.

Wearing a cloak of invisibility, she seemed to blend into the shadows of the city, a living embodiment of its secrets. What intrigued him was her guarded disposition, as if she were a custodian of unsolved mysteries.

He could tell she was a silent keeper of stories, her observations a potential goldmine for his investigation.

Science Fiction

In a dystopian world ruled by technocrats, Ryan was a relic of forgotten humanity.

Displaced by the rise of the machines, he wandered the irradiated wastelands, a nomad in a sea of data streams.

His clothing was an assemblage of old-world materials, offering meager protection against the toxic elements.

Yet his spirit remained undaunted; his eyes still flickered with the spark of human will.

He was a constant reminder to the rebels that resilience was not a program that could be downloaded but a flame that burned in the human soul.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Homeless Person in Writing

While this article aims to help you describe homeless people in a more nuanced and respectful way, it is crucial to remember that each individual is unique.

Stereotypes are harmful, and it’s vital to approach the subject with sensitivity and empathy.

Always strive to create multi-dimensional characters that reflect the complexity and diversity of human experience.

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Writing Nestling

How To Describe A Homeless Person In writing (16 Significant Steps)

In the realm of literature and creative expression, the power of words lies not just in their ability to convey facts but also in their capacity to evoke empathy, understanding, and profound connections between readers and the subjects of their stories.

One such subject often found at the intersection of challenging narratives is homelessness. Describing a homeless person in writing is a delicate art that requires both skill and sensitivity.

It’s an opportunity to dismantle stereotypes, humanize individuals who have fallen on hard times, and illuminate the complex tapestry of their lives.

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive and ethical approach to portraying the homeless experience in a manner that respects their dignity, fosters empathy, and promotes a deeper understanding of the challenges they face.

By navigating the nuances of language, tone, and storytelling, we can contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive narrative landscape, where every person’s story is not only heard but also honored.

Table of Contents

How To Describe A Homeless Person In writing

Describing a homeless person in writing should be done with sensitivity and empathy to avoid perpetuating stereotypes or stigmatizing individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Here’s a step-by-step process to help you do so:

Observe Respectfully

If you are describing a real homeless person, observe them respectfully from a distance without invading their privacy. Do not take photos without their consent.

Understand the Context

Consider the broader context of homelessness in your area. Are there specific challenges or issues faced by homeless individuals in your community?

Focus on Humanity

Emphasize the person’s humanity and individuality. Homelessness is a circumstance, not an identity. Avoid dehumanizing language or generalizations.

Physical Appearance

Describe their physical appearance honestly but respectfully. Mention their clothing, any visible signs of distress, or notable features.

Behavior and Demeanor

Describe their behavior and demeanor without judgment. Are they sitting quietly, talking to someone, or engaging in a specific activity?

Personal Belongings

If applicable, mention any personal belongings they have with them. This can give insight into their daily life and needs.

Emotional State

If you can discern their emotional state, describe it sensitively. Are they appearing sad, distressed, or content?

Avoid making assumptions about their background or reasons for homelessness. Stick to observable facts rather than conjecture.

Interactions

If you witness any interactions with others or with their environment, describe them as they unfold. This can provide context to the individual’s situation.

Positive Qualities

If appropriate, highlight any positive qualities or talents you observe. Homeless individuals, like anyone else, have strengths and skills.

If relevant, discuss the challenges they may face due to homelessness, such as access to food, shelter, or healthcare.

Community Support

Consider mentioning any local organizations or initiatives aimed at helping homeless individuals in your area.

Avoid Stereotypes

Be conscious of stereotypes and biases. Avoid describing the person in a way that reinforces negative stereotypes about homelessness.

Respect Privacy

Protect the person’s privacy. Do not disclose personal information or make them easily identifiable if they haven’t given consent.

Refrain from Judgement

Your description should remain neutral and nonjudgmental. Let readers draw their conclusions and empathize with the person’s situation.

Edit for Sensitivity

After writing your description , review it for sensitivity and empathy. Ensure that it doesn’t perpetuate stereotypes or stigmatize homelessness.

Remember that describing a homeless person should serve a larger purpose, such as raising awareness about homelessness or advocating for better support systems. Approach the task with compassion and a commitment to dignifying the individual’s experience.

Understanding the Homeless Experience

Understanding the homeless experience is like deciphering the pages of an unwritten novel, where each person’s life story is a complex tapestry of circumstances, resilience, and untold emotions.

It’s an odyssey through the labyrinthine alleys of society’s shortcomings, where ordinary people find themselves grappling with extraordinary challenges.

It’s about seeing beyond the tattered clothes and weathered faces, peering into the depths of their souls to uncover the strength that continues to flicker in the darkest of nights.

It’s an invitation to step into their worn-out shoes, to feel the weight of their unspoken burdens, and to acknowledge that homelessness is not a label, but a chapter in a much larger narrative of human existence.

Crafting the Description

Crafting the description of a homeless person is akin to painting a portrait with words, each brushstroke carefully chosen to reveal both the harsh reality and the indomitable spirit.

It’s an art form that demands the delicate balance of capturing the rawness of their circumstances while illuminating the hidden gems of their humanity.

It’s about weaving words that transcend the mundane and mundane and transport readers into the heart of a narrative where empathy takes center stage.

In this canvas of storytelling, we sketch the contours of resilience in every wrinkle, hope in every crease, and humanity in every gaze, inviting others to see the person beneath the circumstance, and to recognize that in their story lies the potential for transformation and understanding.

Describing the physical appearance of a homeless person requires a nuanced and compassionate approach. It’s not about reducing someone to a mere collection of weathered features or worn-out clothing; rather, it’s an opportunity to paint a vivid picture that elicits empathy and understanding.

You might evoke the reader’s senses by detailing the lines etched by hardship on their face, the layers of clothing that serve as their armor against the elements, and the weariness in their eyes that speaks of a life’s journey filled with challenges.

However, it’s crucial to remember that behind these descriptions lies a profound humanity, resilience, and a unique story waiting to be discovered beneath the surface.

Describing physical appearance in this context is not a judgment but an act of storytelling that can help bridge the gap between the reader and the person experiencing homelessness, fostering a deeper connection and empathy.

Exploring the emotional state of a homeless person is like navigating a complex symphony of feelings, where the notes of despair harmonize with those of resilience and hope.

It’s about delving into the depths of their inner world, where the weight of uncertainty and the scars of adversity are etched upon their soul.

One might describe the weariness in their gaze, the flicker of determination in their eyes, or the moments of vulnerability that occasionally surface amidst the daily struggle for survival.

However, it’s important to approach this portrayal with empathy and sensitivity, avoiding judgment and stereotypes.

The emotional state of a homeless individual is a multifaceted composition, and through compassionate storytelling, we can invite readers to listen to the symphony of their experiences, encouraging empathy, understanding, and the recognition of their shared humanity.

Surroundings

Describing the surroundings of a homeless person is akin to sketching the backdrop of a complex and challenging life story.

It’s about painting a vivid landscape that conveys the harsh realities of their daily existence. You might depict the gritty urban streets, makeshift shelters, or the quiet corners of public spaces that become their temporary homes.

The surroundings often reveal the resilience and adaptability of these individuals, as well as the undeniable struggle they face.

However, it’s essential to do so with empathy and respect, avoiding sensationalism or voyeurism.

Through thoughtful description, we can invite readers to step into the environment where homelessness persists, prompting reflection on the societal factors that contribute to this issue and inspiring action to address the challenges faced by those experiencing it.

The Power of Narrative

The power of narrative is a beacon that guides us through the labyrinth of human experience. It’s the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives, bridging gaps, and creating connections.

Like a timeless spell, narratives enchant us, transporting us to distant lands, introducing us to intriguing characters, and making the intangible tangible.

But beyond mere entertainment, narratives are the architects of empathy, the catalysts of change, and the custodians of our collective memory.

In the realm of storytelling, we are both the authors and the protagonists, each narrative an opportunity to explore the depths of our humanity and the boundless horizons of our imagination.

It’s through storytelling that we discover not only who we are but also who we can become, making the power of narrative an eternal flame that illuminates the path to understanding, growth, and the limitless possibilities of our shared human journey.

Creating a backstory

Creating a backstory is akin to laying the foundation of a character’s existence, infusing them with depth, and breathing life into their narrative.

It’s the art of crafting the history that shapes who they are, how they perceive the world, and why they’ve become the person they are today.

Like a masterful sculptor, the storyteller chisels away at the past, revealing the defining moments, traumas, triumphs, and formative experiences that have etched their mark on the character’s soul.

A well-crafted backstory not only adds authenticity to a character but also provides readers with a richer, more immersive experience.

It allows us to understand their motivations, fears, and aspirations, forging a deeper connection between the character and the audience, and ultimately, bringing the story to life in vibrant hues and textures.

Language and Tone

Language and tone are the alchemical ingredients that transmute mere words into a symphony of emotions and ideas.

They are the warp and weft of the narrative tapestry, dictating the rhythm, melody, and resonance of the storytelling. Like a seasoned conductor, the writer orchestrates language and tone to evoke curiosity, empathy, or awe in the reader.

It’s a dance of nuance and intention, where the choice of a single word can shift the entire narrative’s tenor.

From the mellifluous cadence of a love story to the thunderous crescendo of a thriller, language and tone are the painters of emotional landscapes, inviting readers to traverse the terrains of wonder, heartache, and revelation.

In the hands of a skilled storyteller, they become the keys to unlocking the secret chambers of the human soul, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who embark on the literary journey.

Avoiding dehumanizing language

Avoiding dehumanizing language is not merely a matter of semantics but a profound ethical responsibility in the realm of communication.

It’s about recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of their circumstances. Dehumanizing language has the power to strip away a person’s humanity, reducing them to a label or a stereotype.

When we choose words that debase or objectify, we perpetuate harm and division in our society.

Instead, we should seek to employ language that respects the complexity of human experiences, acknowledging that every person has a unique story and a shared humanity.

By avoiding dehumanizing language, we create a space for empathy, understanding, and meaningful dialogue, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate world where everyone’s voice is valued and heard.

Maintaining a respectful tone

Maintaining a respectful tone is the cornerstone of effective and ethical communication.

It’s a conscious choice to engage with others in a manner that upholds their dignity and fosters a climate of mutual respect. Respectful tone means not only considering the words we use but also the manner in which we express ourselves.

It involves listening actively, valuing diverse perspectives, and refraining from personal attacks or derogatory language. In discussions, debates, and everyday interactions, a respectful tone is the bridge that connects us, allowing for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

It acknowledges that even in disagreement, we can uphold the principles of empathy and civility, cultivating an environment where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to express themselves authentically.

The Role of Dialogue

The role of dialogue in storytelling is akin to the interplay of instruments in a symphony—each conversation is a harmonious or discordant note that shapes the narrative’s melody. Dialogues breathe life into characters, offering a glimpse into their minds and hearts.

It’s the art of crafting authentic exchanges that transcend the written word, allowing readers to eavesdrop on the unspoken hopes, fears, and dreams of the characters.

Through dialogue, we navigate the labyrinth of emotions, unveil hidden motives, and witness the evolving relationships between characters.

It’s a dynamic and immersive journey that immerses readers in the unfolding drama, where every spoken word is a brushstroke on the canvas of the human experience, and every conversation holds the power to captivate, intrigue, and resonate long after the last word is read.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations in storytelling are the North Star that guides our creative compass, ensuring that we navigate the vast seas of narrative with integrity and purpose.

They are the silent guardians of truth, empathy, and responsibility, reminding us that storytelling is not just a craft but a profound act of influence. Ethical storytelling demands that we tread carefully in the terrain of representation, respecting the boundaries and sensitivities of individuals and communities.

It challenges us to wield the power of words with care, to champion authenticity over sensationalism, and to recognize the privilege of our role as storytellers.

Ultimately, ethical considerations are the conscious choice to use our narratives as vessels for connection, empowerment, and positive change, forging a path towards a world where stories serve as bridges, not barriers, and where the resonance of our words echoes with empathy and social responsibility.

Consent and privacy

Consent and privacy are the twin pillars upon which ethical storytelling stands.

In the digital age, where information flows freely and boundaries blur, respecting the autonomy and privacy of individuals is paramount. Obtaining consent to share personal stories or sensitive information is not only a matter of legal compliance but a demonstration of respect and empathy.

It acknowledges that each person has the right to control their narrative and decide how, when, and to what extent their story is shared. Respecting privacy extends beyond obtaining consent; it also involves safeguarding the identities and personal details of those who might be vulnerable or at risk.

In the realm of storytelling, consent and privacy are not just ethical principles but essential safeguards that uphold the dignity and well-being of individuals, ensuring that the power of narrative is harnessed responsibly and with the utmost respect for the lives and stories of those who entrust them to us.

Respecting the wishes of homeless individuals

Respecting the wishes of homeless individuals is an essential principle in ethical storytelling and compassionate journalism.

It signifies a commitment to honor the autonomy and agency of those experiencing homelessness. It means listening when they choose to share their stories and respecting their right to withhold information when they wish to remain private.

Homeless individuals, like anyone else, have a spectrum of experiences and emotions, and it’s crucial to acknowledge their diversity and complexity.

By prioritizing their wishes and consent, we uphold their dignity and humanity, and we avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or exploiting their vulnerability.

It’s a reminder that, regardless of their circumstances, they deserve respect, empathy, and the power to control their own narrative.

Protecting identities and sensitive information

Protecting identities and sensitive information is a fundamental ethical responsibility when portraying individuals in any form of storytelling, especially when discussing sensitive topics such as homelessness.

It underscores the commitment to safeguarding personal privacy and preventing potential harm or exploitation. By carefully concealing or anonymizing identities, we ensure that individuals are shielded from unnecessary exposure and potential stigmatization.

It is essential to handle sensitive information with the utmost care, never revealing details that could compromise someone’s safety or dignity.

Respecting privacy in storytelling goes hand-in-hand with upholding the values of empathy and compassion, as it acknowledges that every person’s story is their own to share or protect, and that our role as storytellers is to amplify their voices while respecting their right to privacy.

Promoting social change

Promoting social change through storytelling is the transformative power of words in action. It’s the ability to shed light on injustice, challenge the status quo, and inspire collective action.

Stories have the unparalleled capacity to spark empathy and bridge the gap between individuals and communities. They can drive conversations, ignite movements, and bring about the awareness needed to address societal issues, like homelessness.

Through storytelling, we can humanize complex problems, unveiling the stories of those directly affected, and galvanize people to take a stand, support initiatives, and advocate for change.

It’s a reminder that storytelling isn’t just an art; it’s a force for positive social transformation, a catalyst for empathy and understanding, and a rallying cry for a more just and compassionate world.

Encouraging empathy and support for homeless communities

Encouraging empathy and support for homeless communities through storytelling is a powerful call to action. By sharing the stories of individuals experiencing homelessness, we invite readers to walk in their shoes, to feel their struggles and aspirations.

These narratives humanize the issue, reminding us that behind statistics and stereotypes are real people with real challenges.

Through empathy, we can foster a deeper understanding of the systemic factors contributing to homelessness, and inspire meaningful change.

Storytelling can motivate individuals and communities to get involved, volunteer, support shelters, advocate for policy reforms, or simply extend a helping hand to those in need.

It serves as a reminder that, in the interconnected tapestry of our society, the well-being of homeless individuals reflects our collective humanity, and through empathy and support, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive world for all.

Editing and Revising

Editing and revising are the secret alchemy of storytelling, where the rough stone of a first draft transforms into a polished gem that captivates hearts and minds.

It’s the art of sifting through the kaleidoscope of words, rearranging them until they sing in harmony, and polishing every sentence until it gleams with clarity and resonance.

Editing is where the sculptor sharpens the chisel, and the painter refines each brushstroke, all in service of crafting a masterpiece that resonates deeply with the reader.

It’s a dance between critique and creation, a journey of refinement that demands patience, precision, and the willingness to let go of the unnecessary to reveal the essential.

Through editing and revision, we breathe life into our narratives, ensuring they become not just stories, but unforgettable experiences etched into the reader’s soul.

Examples and Exercises

Examples and exercises are the dynamic duo in the school of storytelling, akin to the “show” and “practice” of a captivating performance.

Examples are like the torchbearers, illuminating the path of effective storytelling with real-world illustrations that inspire and instruct.

They showcase the artistry of storytelling, revealing its power to evoke emotion and convey meaning. Exercises, on the other hand, are the hands-on laboratories where storytellers sharpen their skills and unlock their creative potential.

They provide the canvas for experimentation, the stage for trial and error, and the opportunity to weave narratives of their own.

Together, examples and exercises are the creative forge where aspiring storytellers refine their craft, learning from the masters and sculpting their unique voices, ultimately transforming storytelling from theory into an exhilarating practice that springs to life on the page.

uniquely Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about How To Describe A Homeless Person In writing

Why is it important to describe a homeless person in writing.

Describing a homeless person in writing can raise awareness about homelessness, foster empathy, and challenge stereotypes, ultimately contributing to a more compassionate society.

What are some key principles to follow when describing a homeless person in writing?

Key principles include sensitivity, respect for privacy, empathy, avoiding stereotypes, and focusing on the individual’s humanity.

Can I use photographs in my description of a homeless person?

It’s generally best to avoid taking or using photographs of homeless individuals without their informed consent to protect their privacy and dignity.

How can I convey the challenges faced by homeless individuals in my description without being negative or stigmatizing?

Highlight the systemic challenges they face, such as access to shelter or healthcare, without blaming or stigmatizing the individual. Use descriptive, nonjudgmental language.

Should I include personal details or assumptions about the homeless person’s background in my description?

No, avoid making assumptions or including personal details that the individual hasn’t explicitly shared. Stick to observable facts and behaviors.

Can I describe the positive qualities or talents of a homeless person in my writing?

Yes, if you observe positive qualities or talents, it’s important to include them in your description. This can help challenge stereotypes and humanize the individual.

What should I do if I want to advocate for homeless individuals in my writing?

Use your writing to raise awareness about homelessness, share information about local support services, and call for systemic change to address the issue.

Are there specific words or phrases I should avoid when describing a homeless person?

Avoid derogatory or stigmatizing language such as “bum,” “vagrant,” or “homeless person” as an identity. Instead, use terms like “individual experiencing homelessness.”

How can I maintain the privacy and dignity of the homeless person I’m describing?

Protect their privacy by not disclosing personal information and avoiding easily identifiable details unless you have their informed consent.

What should I consider when describing interactions between a homeless person and their environment or others?

Describe interactions without judgment, focusing on what you observe. These interactions can provide context to the individual’s situation.

Can I write fiction or creative pieces about homelessness?

Yes, you can write fiction or creative pieces about homelessness, but it’s crucial to do thorough research and approach the topic with sensitivity and empathy to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.

How can I ensure my description fosters empathy and understanding among readers?

To foster empathy, focus on the person’s humanity, emotions, and experiences. Encourage readers to see the individual behind the circumstances of homelessness. These uniquely crafted FAQs can serve as a helpful guide for individuals looking to write about homelessness with sensitivity and empathy.

In the rich tapestry of human existence, stories of homelessness are threads that often remain overlooked or misunderstood.

However, through the lens of literature and writing, we have the power to magnify these narratives, to shine a light on the resilience, the struggle, and the humanity of those who have experienced homelessness.

Our journey through this guide has emphasized the importance of sensitivity, respect, and empathy when describing homeless individuals in writing . By approaching this task with ethical considerations and a commitment to authentic portrayal, we bridge the divide between stereotypes and understanding, promoting a culture of empathy and social change.

It is through our words and narratives that we can uplift voices that have long been marginalized and, in doing so, contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive world where the stories of all individuals are honored and valued.

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Welcome to the provocative realm of literary exploration where the human psyche unravels like a mysterious tapestry — a world where pleasure intertwines with pain and vulnerability dances with strength. In this guide, we embark on a daring journey into the art of crafting masochistic characters, delving into the intricate psychology, nuanced storytelling, and ethical…

How To Describe Rain In Writing (10 Important Steps)

Describing rain in writing is akin to capturing the essence of a timeless and ever-evocative phenomenon that has fascinated poets, novelists, and storytellers for centuries. Rain, in its many forms and moods, can be a powerful narrative device, setting the stage, conveying emotions, and mirroring the complexities of human experience. In this guide, we will…

Describing a drug addict in writing requires a delicate yet unflinching exploration of the complexities that characterize the human experience entangled with substance abuse. It goes beyond clichés and stereotypes, demanding a nuanced understanding of the physical, psychological, and emotional dimensions of addiction. In this journey, writers become not just storytellers but empathetic observers, tasked…

The art of describing faces in writing is a powerful and essential aspect of storytelling that transcends mere words on a page. In the hands of a skilled writer, facial descriptions have the ability to breathe life into characters, evoke emotions, and transport readers to richly imagined worlds. The human face, with its myriad expressions…

How To Write A Locked Room Mystery (12 Best Tips)

Embark on a literary journey where the confines of space become the stage for an intricate dance between deception and deduction. Writing a Locked Room Mystery is an art that weaves an impossible crime into the fabric of suspense, challenging both the author and the reader to navigate the labyrinth of clues within the claustrophobic…

How To Write Nightmare Scenes In Writing (10 Best Ways)

Writing nightmare scenes is like painting with the darkest shades of imagination, crafting eerie landscapes and unsettling scenarios that plunge readers into a world of chilling and often surreal terrors. These scenes are not just for the horror genre but can be potent tools in any writer’s toolkit, adding depth, intensity, and psychological intrigue to…