unsheltered

American  

[uhn-shel-terd] / ʌnˈʃɛl tərd /

adjective

1. not protected or shielded, as from storms or missiles, by a wall, roof, barrier, dense vegetative cover, or the like: The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

   Eastside residents now face a steep climb uphill to an unsheltered bus stop if they want to use public transportation.

   The beach is unsheltered from northern winds and gets big waves in late summer.

2. being without a house or lacking permanent housing; houseless; homeless.

   Veterans experiencing homelessness were more likely to be classified as unsheltered—living in cars, public parks, or under highway overpasses.

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Sensitive Note

See homeless ( def. ).

Etymology

Origin of unsheltered

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- ¹ ( def. ) + sheltered ( def. )

Example Sentences

Though the benchmarks would be created with input from the state Legislature, Mahan floated one example: reducing unsheltered homelessness by 5% to 10% within one year, something he said he’s accomplished three years in a row in San José.

From Los Angeles Times

Department of Housing and Urban Development, it includes people living in shelters and unsheltered settings but not formerly homeless people living in supportive housing.

From Los Angeles Times

Even as unsheltered homelessness declined for the last two years across Los Angeles County, the unsheltered population on Skid Row — long seen as the epicenter of the region’s homelessness crisis — grew 9% in 2024, the most recent year for which census data are available.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the local government has been able to lower crime rates through community-based policing and by providing housing and social services to its unsheltered population.

From Los Angeles Times

Unsheltered homelessness – that is people living on the streets – dropped 14%.

From Los Angeles Times