Homeless
A homeless person is someone without the income to pay for shelter, living catch-as-catch can, sometimes outside. The causes are many: incompetence, poor mental health, economic recession. Many poor farms and mental hospitals that once housed these people have been shut down.
Refugees from wars or natural disasters are not usually included.
Because of poor sanitation and the tendency of the homeless to accost people for money, vagrancy in some places is considered a legal offense for which the victim can be arrested.
Synonyms include bum, tramp, beggar and hobo.[1]
Many homeless shelters are located across the United States, usually run by local government or religious charities.
Besides giving shelter, they often have programs for job placement that can help the homeless move back into society. Under President Obama some homeowners received welfare money to help them keep their homes.[2]
Further reading
- Link, B. et al. "Lifetime and five-year prevalence of homelessness in the United States" American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1995 online edition