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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Sensitive Note

See homeless ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of homelessness

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

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 was recently a managing editor of the Yale Daily News, where she previously covered local housing and homelessness and designed the print edition of the newspaper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

It won’t alleviate homelessness or the housing shortage for people at the lowest incomes, he said.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

I wish they took care of homelessness, but there’s also love in the air, I guess.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

I saw firsthand that treating homelessness as a crime actively makes homelessness worse.

From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2026

In that lonely place Frodo for the first time fully realized his homelessness and danger.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien