Truth versus slang.

 1.) This first list is how some people like to address people who are experiencing homelessness. 

• Vagrants.
• Destitute.
• Itinerant.
• Outcasts.
• Vagabonds.
• Vagrants.
• Pillagers.
• Beach combers.
• Bums.
• Hobos.
• Beggars.
• Floater.
• Alms person.
• Gutter sleepers.
• Indigents.
• Bag man or lady.
• Dumpster divers.
• Winos.
• Street people.
• Backpackers.
• Loosers.
• Tree people.
• Invisible.
• Shadow creepers.

2.) This next list is who most of the people experiencing homelessness really are. 

• We are assaulted.
• We are abused.         
• We are neglected.  
• We are molested.
• We are raped.
• We are mistreated.
• We are left out.
• We are spit on.
• We are forgotten. 
• We are given away.
• We are Fathers.
• We are Mothers.
• We are left to die.
• We are hungry.
• We are cold.
• We are suffering.
• We are mentally ill.   
• We have trauma.
• We are ashamed.
• We are afraid.
• We are Veterans.
• We are addicted.
• We are alcoholics.
• We are Humans. 

3.) This final list is how society makes a lot of us who are experiencing homelessness feel about ourselves.

•  We are worthless.           
• We are failures.
•  We are losers.
•  We should have never been born.
•  We are the cause of all problems.
•  We are ugly.
• We don't deserve anything.
• We are a lost cause.
• We will never make it in life.
• We are unintelligent. 
• We are embarrassed. 
• We are filthy animals.
• We have low self esteem.
• We blame ourselves.
• We talk negatively about ourselves.
• We do not consider our needs important.
• We don't believe in ourselves. 
• We live with severe trauma.
• We have mental illness. 
• We are drug addicts. 
• We are alcoholics. 
• Most importantly, we are humans.