VA Research Reveals Preferred Homelessness Language Across Populations

The VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans conducted surveys on what language people use to describe people experiencing homelessness.

Among middle- and low-income adults , the majority (70-73%) reported using the term “homeless person.” Within that group, people were more likely to use the term “person experiencing homelessness” if they had experienced homelessness themselves.

Among providers, researchers, and policymakers , the most frequently used term was “person experiencing homelessness” (39-55%) followed by “homeless person” (19-41%).

There was little language difference when speaking versus writing about homelessness.

Read the full research brief.

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