homelessness

American  

[hohm-lis-nis] / ˈhoʊm lɪs nɪs /

noun

1. lack of permanent housing, especially this condition generally as a matter of public concern.

   The city partners with community groups to offer resources for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

2. lack of a feeling of belonging; rootlessness or restlessness.

   He writes about a feeling of homelessness after immigration, when he felt neither firmly bound to his native culture nor fully adapted to the new one.

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Sensitivity

See homeless ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of homelessness

First recorded in 1810–20; homeless ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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Explanation

Homelessness is a situation in which people don't have a place to live. A family experiencing homelessness might need to temporarily stay in a city shelter or with a relative. Homelessness is a state of being without a home. The word usually describes the circumstances of people who have fallen on hard times and don't have the money or ability to acquire a safe, stable place to live. Homelessness is a widespread problem across the U.S., with causes that include poverty, addiction, domestic violence, low wages, and lack of affordable housing.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

homelessness

She ran on cutting homelessness, increasing housing in the city, saving Hollywood jobs from continued cuts and protecting residents from immigration enforcement efforts.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

“I saw what happened these last four years,” Martinez said, citing the continuing homelessness epidemic and the broken-down condition of the city, “and I’m hoping something different goes on this time.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Since losing her apartment five years ago because of a job loss and disability, Blair said, she has tried to navigate an alphabet soup of nonprofits that manage the city’s enormous homelessness budget.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Angelenos yearn for safer streets, an end to homelessness, a renewal of the dreamland that the city has represented for over a century.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

All that money that could help other species or other conservation efforts or tackle human problems such as homelessness or poverty—for one species?

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

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