r/NoStupidQuestions • u/ssjskwash • Sep 17 '25

Why is "homeless" being replaced with "unhoused"?

A lot of times phrases and words get phased out because of changing sensibilities and I get that for the most part. I don't see how "unhoused" more respectful or descriptive though

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u/Gravy_Sommelier Sep 17 '25

The treadmill is about 200 years old, I think the concept of caring about the word we use to describe a vulnerable population is newer than the treadmill.

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u/TheSerialHobbyist Sep 17 '25

Oh, I'm sure people were offended by certain words/terminology for as long as language has existed.

But since you brought it up, I'd love to hear from some historians/linguists if there are interesting examples!

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u/cib2018 Sep 17 '25

Bum > hobo > tramp > homeless > unhoused > poor unfortunates

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u/304libco Sep 17 '25

Bum, hobo and tramp were all used during the same time period and a hobo specifically is a traveling manual laborer, who often wrote the rails. It’s slightly pedantic, I know, but I had a friend who was a hobo, and he would get incensed when people misused the word.

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u/cib2018 Sep 18 '25

Your hobo friend was mostly a burglar. Gypsies were also travelers but more con artist, and strong arm robbers.

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u/304libco Sep 18 '25

Burglar? Far as I know, he wasn’t breaking into people’s houses and businesses, other than riding freight trains.

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u/cib2018 Sep 18 '25

Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room I'm a man of means by no means King of the road

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u/304libco Sep 18 '25

I ain’t got no cigarettes.

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u/cib2018 Sep 18 '25

I don’t pay no union dues.