Why “Unhoused”?

The power of our words is no secret. Within Planet Worth, we recognize the impact of how we use language to describe the world around us and intentionally use terms that bring us together and communicate with accuracy. One of the most insidious enemies of community strength is the power of “othering” people who are, in fact, only different from us in life experience and circumstance. This is why we refer to everyone as a neighbor, regardless of where they live.

The common term “homeless” is our primary example of inaccurate communication. When a person lives outside, it doesn’t mean that they do not have a home. “Homeless” communicates an absence of soul and affronts the realization that a home can be created anywhere out of anything - a tent, an overpass, even a cardboard box. The real narrative of what is happening lies in the fact that people are not provided one of their basic human rights: adequate housing.

In recognizing these significant obstacles for individuals, we adjust the way we speak of them to further validate that experience and turn our focus to the societal structures that have failed us as a community.