Homeless and Related Terms on Both Sides of the Pond: American, British and Scottish Words
By Stephen Wilson & Thomas Hansen
It is very interesting to look at terms for homeless persons and topics related to them. It is also interesting to consider different ways these individuals are lumped together—as are people of certain groups and professions which others judge as less than desirable. For many years, people on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean have been judged harshly if they have been poor, homeless, struggling, and without much means to earn living wages.
In some cases, the persons in poverty could be working but have chosen not to. In other cases, they have sought work and for whatever reason have not found any.
People with established residences—of whatever sort—have been quick to judge people who have less. There are always people out there who have less—less money, less food, less safe housing, less luck, less resources, less connections, less tools, less education, less training, and less hope.
The following are some comments on perceived use of language and the tendencies to label those who have that “less” that others want to judge.
HOMELESS PHRASES IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND
A couple decades ago in Scotland people often referred to the homeless as “down and out.” At a job interview for a nursing assistant in Dunfermline, Stephen told the interviewer he had worked in a night shelter for “down and outs.” The woman interviewing him did not like the term, thinking it painted the homeless in a negative was as always “out” and thus incapable of getting “back in” or “back inside” from their predicament. He had never thought that using such a term might offend people. In Britain nobody uses the term in 2022.
Strange, but George Orwell used the title 'Down and Out In Paris and London' for his classic book and did not intend to offend anyone!
Some people referred to the homeIess or tramps as “gentlemen of the road” just before the World War I. It suggests that some people respected the homeless. This was in contrast to what Orwell found--the prevailing myth of the “tramp monster.” Orwell writes of the slang he came across in his “down and out” book when he writes “A gagger - a beggar or street performer of any kind. A moocher - one who begs outright, without pretence of doing a trade. A nobber - one who collects pennies for a beggar. A chanter - a street singer. A clodhopper - a street dancer… {“Down and Out in Paris and London,” 1933, p. 176}. The word moocher survives in American English.
You have old archaic terms like “vagabond” which is no longer used in Scotland or Britain (or the U.S.) but was used to describe anyone without a roof over his head. It was so negative that it seemed synonymous with the word criminal. In the late 16th century tough Scottish Laws were passed. In fact, people caught begging could have their ears cut off and if arrested a second time were put to death unless someone agreed to employ them. A lot of homeless people were forced to work as serfs in coal and salt mines!
“Sleeping rough” (American “unsheltered”) means sleeping outdoors and it is used both in official and everyday language. “Rough sleeping” has also been heard—in which case speakers have inverted the term. “Sleeping rough”—in context—can be understood by Americans, it seems.
“Vagrants” is used a lot and many laws in England and Scotland outlaw vagrancy. Americans understand this somewhat older term—again in context. Homeless people and others who perform on the streets are now called buskers. Buskers are not beggars but the way policemen react you would think they were begging or committing some crime. A lot of the past buskers were Irish and Scottish bards or poets who would recite their poetry on the streets in the 15th to the early 17th century but they came to be outlawed later because people no longer recognized or respected their trade.
For a long time before Shakespeare, acting was not deemed a profession but an activity of the idle which counted in the category of vagabond. Performing actors were outlawed, arrested or kicked out of English towns. Indeed the theater was banned in Scotland for two centuries because it was viewed as competition against the church. Only the intervention of the monarchy protected travelling actors. So some of the prejudice against the homeless seemed to be by “control freaks” who just did not like people taking up different trades—or work that was not fully geared to mass production of consumer goods in factories.
HOMELESS PHRASES IN THE UNITED STATES
Similar to Orwell, Jack Kerouac spoke in his work about free-spirited individuals traveling about and not “settling down” or “getting serious” about life, making and saving money, establishing a place and a home, and building a legacy of resources. Many judged the folks he admired! Kerouac was an “American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kerouac). Kerouac was famous for the book “On the Road” which he called a “search for God” and which focused on the avant-garde.
Kerouac and his entourage emphasized the arts and writing as a way to self-discovery and purpose—always in strong contrast to the status quo. He is important because he shows the power of the American spirit—and the refusal to comply with society’s judgements and rules.
This all relates to “chronic homeless” persons in the United States—the term used for those who have basically been outdoors and out of the system for many years. Chronic homeless individuals and families show refusal to comply also, and in some cases reject the notion they should be living indoors and establishing a home along traditional patterns.
“Hardcore homeless” is a new term that has used by a small group of those who comment on life on the streets (Hansen) and who are discussing a small group of unhoused persons who very actively fight going indoors, are perhaps focused on criminal activities, and who feel the street is a better environment for them to be able to conduct their business and maintain their known social relationships.
“Sheltered” and “unsheltered” homeless are terms used by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other official agencies to refer to people with a roof and without a roof (remember this concept). Important to note is that according to HUD, to be considered and receive the maximum amount of funding and services, the homeless person must be living in a shelter, or outdoors, or occupying some living situation not appropriate as a human dwelling, such as a car or patio or park bench.
Persons sleeping at a cousin’s house—or couch-surfing with friends—are NOT considered eligible for services from HUD.
It is essential advocates for the homeless understand this point. As always, a close review of the rules – and checking with one’s professional network – is crucial in trying to get people into housing, some food and clothing, and other resources needed.
Some other current terms being used in America come to mind such as “unhoused” persons and similar words popping up recently like the “unroofed” individuals who are living, sleeping, eating, and dwelling outdoors.
All terms that show homelessness is a condition—and not a central element of a person’s being—are beneficial ones, as an advocate for the unhoused will tell you. Homelessness is not part of a person’s personality or psyche. It is the situation in which they currently find themselves.
Unfortunately, the terms “the deserving poor” and “the undeserving poor” from Reagan’s time still persist in the language of persons who try to judge others based on their work or lack of work. Often, uninformed persons outside the situation wish to argue that some people need resources because they cannot work (e.g., those who have extreme disabilities) and are therefore deserving of help as opposed to people who can work (but are too lazy, drunk, foolish, or uncooperative) to do so and are those who that group of individuals want to therefore label as the undeserving poor .
“Panhandlers” is a term heard lately quite a bit in the news in Chicago and other cities. Why? In January 2021, the courts declared laws criminalizing panhandlers invalid. In other words, this activity is no longer considered illegal in Illinois and other places. A panhandler asks people for money and sometimes includes a story or purpose, as in “Could I please have some change? I am trying to get something to eat.”
A search of the term panhandler will produce an infinite number of hits, including many hits showing the term is considered offensive now and slowly disappearing from everyday speech… it being an older term anyway.
Advocates for the homeless and others who are “down on their luck” are hoping the term panhandling disappears completely. “Down on their/his/my luck” is also an older American term but not as offensive.
“Beggars” is another more general term for persons who ask for money. “Bum” is an even more general term, meaning not only asking for money but showing little interest in work or being part of the starus quo in any fashion. “Bumming around” is another negative term and it implies wasting time or aimlessly traveling or walking. Americans are never supposed to waste time! They are supposed to be working, and when they are at rest, they should be planning what they are going to do next!
Interestingly enough, the word “buskers” is NOT considered a negative term in the U.S. In fact, it has a somewhat romantic quality to it—college students and others even bragging about busking in the subways in big cities. Busking to pay for their dinner is somewhat of an adventurous part of a young person’s day, in fact. Some people will say on television shows or interviews ‘I was busking in New York City and that’s where I met my future wife!”
Busking has taken on a positive meaning that beggars, ne'er-do-wells, and vagabonds did not receive! Many a big star in music and movies will admit to busking.
In fact, Jimmy Fallon of “The Tonight Show” regularly hosts a segment called “Subway Busking” in which he goes undercover (unknown in costume) with musical stars to perform with the audience waiting for the train, totally unaware who is singing. Recently, he and Alanis Morissette, Maroon 5, Miley Cyrus and U2 put on disguises and fooled passengers waiting for their train, only revealing at the end of their performance who they really were (https://www.yahoo.com/now/best-tonight-show-subway-busking-130000116.html).
Words in Spanish are also often heard on the streets of Chicago – and one phrase one hears repeatedly for describing the condition of the homeless is “sin techo” meaning “without a roof.” This is a very clear and apt description of the people’s predicament.
As all advocates for the homeless know, the main—and obvious challenge—facing the unhoused is not having a dwelling in which to sleep, dwell safely away from robbers and thieves, relax because there is no fear of being beaten or killed, survive in a relatively comfortable temperature out of the elements, have a place to shower, shave, keep one’s leftovers and therefore save money, prepare food and eat it and enjoy it and not lose it to those who would grab it away…
Unfortunately, two other words are heard, both being used often in judging some persons out there. Some who judge call the unhoused on our streets “desgraciados” meaning the disgusting and those with no shame—applied to any persons who are doing something inappropriate, like sleeping on the sidewalk, or perhaps illegal, like urinating in public—though there are no public bathrooms in Chicago and most every store and business restricts use of their restrooms or disallows their use entirely.
The other term heard often on the streets is used to judge people who are not working—or do not appear to be working or persons who work. A slang word from Mexican Spanish—from a culture that does not easily accept charity or idleness—is “flojo” and the feminine form “floja.” This is a terribly bad thing “to be” and flojos are lazy. Laziness to some people is considered one of the greatest character flaws a person could have. It could also perhaps be something so strong and evil it could be found at the central core of an undesirable person! It is another aspect that some people do not think is a condition that can be changed—if it is a problem or not to begin with.
CONCLUSION
The terms above range from the descriptive to the damning. Human nature being what it is, many people wish to “push other people down,” as the saying goes. Doing so makes those who judge feel higher or better somehow.
Unfortunately some people spend a great deal of their energy judging others and complicating their already difficult lives. As most unhoused persons will tell you, living outdoors makes everything in your life more difficult. There is no place to keep your wallet. There is no place to keep bandaids. There is no place to hide.
Unhoused persons need assistance of all sorts—and they depend on the advocates, counselors, social workers, and others who give what they can and work hard to assist the unroofed. Sometimes it is a thankless—and even dangerous job. However, people do appreciate the assistance.
Being a good Samaritan and helping the person with no roof living on the street is in fact an honorable mission. Sorting through all of the words used to describe our homeless brothers and sisters and some of their activities, legal or illegal or just necessary.
Some of the terms used are terribly negative, others just mildly offensive.