Terminology
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This is a very rough draft of basic terms and definitions. It is not legal or medical advice. This is intended for members of the public to have a working knowledge of basic terms used in the discussion and debate over homeless and housing policies.
Area Median Income (AMI)
The income benchmark used to determine housing affordability levels.
Chronically Homeless
A person with a disabling condition who has been homeless long-term or repeatedly.
Co-Occurring Conditions
Many individuals experiencing addiction also face mental health challenges such as depression, PTSD, or severe anxiety. Integrated treatment improves outcomes.
Compassion Fatigue
Emotional exhaustion experienced by caregivers and service workers.
Continuum of Care (CoC)
A regional planning body that coordinates federal homelessness funding.
Cost-Burdened
Spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Extremely Low Income (ELI)
Typically earning 30% or less of AMI.
Fentanyl Addiction (Opioid Use Disorder)
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly more potent than heroin or morphine. Because it is often mixed into other street drugs, many overdoses occur unintentionally. Fentanyl addiction is medically classified as Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
Recovery is complex and usually requires medical treatment, stability, and long-term support.
Harm Reduction
A public health approach focused on reducing the risk of death and disease without requiring immediate abstinence. Harm reduction aims to keep individuals alive and engaged long enough to pursue treatment. Examples include:
• Naloxone (Narcan) medication that reverses opioid overdoses. • Fentanyl test strip to detect contamination • Distribution of clean supplies to reduce infection.
Homeless Industrial Complex
This term is used by some critics as a derogatory characterization of the homelessness service system. It suggests that homelessness has turned into an “industry” where nonprofits, agencies, and social workers are more interested in keeping their jobs than actually helping people get off the streets. People who use this phrase believe that some organizations benefit from ongoing homelessness because it keeps funding and salaries flowing.
There have been cases where nonprofit leaders received very high pay or where money was poorly managed. These situations damage public trust and deserve scrutiny. Nonprofits that receive public funds should be transparent about how money is spent and what results they achieve.
At the same time, most social workers, outreach teams, shelter staff, and case managers do not earn large salaries. Many make modest incomes and work long hours in emotionally demanding roles. They deal daily with addiction, mental illness, housing shortages, and trauma. Most enter the field because they genuinely want to help, not because it is financially rewarding.
Using the term Homeless Industrial Complex without recognizing the large number of dedicated, underpaid workers is an unfair way to criticize the failures of a few. Honest oversight is necessary, but broad accusations can discourage the very people trying to solve the problem.
Housing First
An approach that places people into permanent housing without requiring sobriety or treatment first. This policy is criticized by some for putting people with recovery needs in a place where they are out of public view but still have serious health conditions. But is it really better to be on the street? Some critics add that the housing is sometimes just as lawless and conducive to enabling drug use as the streets. The critics’ argument then seems really focused on providing housing first if the housing is safe and full of support services, which then becomes a funding issue since housing without security and services is cheaper than housing full of services.
Housing Stability
Stable housing significantly increases the likelihood of recovery. Approaches such as Housing First prioritize providing housing before requiring sobriety.
Low-Barrier Shelter
Shelters with minimal entry requirements (e.g., no sobriety requirement).
Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
Evidence-based medications that reduce cravings and overdose risk. These medications are widely considered the most effective treatment tools for opioid addiction:
- Buprenorphine (often known by the brand Suboxone)
- Methadone
- Naltrexone
Recovery Realities
Recovery is often non-linear. Relapse can occur and does not necessarily mean treatment failure. Long-term case management, peer support, and access to healthcare improve the likelihood of sustained recovery.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
Long-term housing paired with ongoing case management and services.
Point-in-Time Count (PIT Count)
An annual count of people experiencing homelessness on a single night.
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH)
Short-term rental assistance to quickly move someone from homelessness into housing.
Service-Resistant
A controversial label suggesting someone repeatedly declines services.
Sweep / Encampment Sweep / Encampment Resolution
The removal of tents and belongings from public spaces.
Transitional Housing
Temporary housing with supportive services designed to prepare someone for permanent housing.
Unsheltered vs. Sheltered
Living outside (tents, vehicles, streets) versus staying in shelters or temporary programs.
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