homelessness

[hohm-lis-nis]

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.

Sensitive Note

See homeless ( def. ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of homelessness¹

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

Example Sentences

Residents complained of homelessness and open drug use.

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For employees who might experience a bout of homelessness, most Provalus offices have showers and laundry rooms.

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None shied away from the fact that San Francisco has problems, especially with homelessness.

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At the meeting, a captain said officers are limited in what they can do, because it was the policy of the county not to criminalize homelessness.

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Department of Justice on Thursday announced charges against two real estate executives accused, in two unrelated cases, of misappropriating millions of dollars in state funds allocated to combat homelessness.

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