Homeless Delusions

Someone recently pointed out the insidiousness behind the normalization of the term “homeless.” The people that used to be labeled vagrants or bums or similar terms now deemed derogatory. The language shift brought with it a shift in perceived responsibility away from the individual. Now, it’s society’s fault that someone is homeless, and therefore society has the burden of caring for that someone.

“Homeless” has been in our lexicon for half a century now, which as far as progressives go means it’s time for change. Once something ages, it becomes de facto bad. That goes for “someone” as well - just look at how baby boomers are now being blamed for all society’s ills. In lieu of “homeless,” we are now expected to accept “unhoused” as the correct term.

Which brings with it another shift in perception - toward people’s entitlement to housing.