How we talk about HousingPlus clients: An overview of person-first or person-centered language
Why is it important?
HousingPlus works with people who have been historically marginalized. Many tenants and participants are people who have been systemically deprived of resources or viewed with bias, including people of color, non-binary or gender-nonconforming people, people with serious mental illness, and people with a history of substance abuse.
Person-centered language ensures that a diagnosis, circumstance, or life experience does not define a person. This type of language does not imply causality (blame) for a person’s circumstance.
We work with women where they are, recognizing the importance of a home as a stabilizing force even if someone struggles with other barriers. Person-first and person-centered language is important as we work to emphasize the dignity and humanity of our clients continually.
What are our considerations for using person-centered language?
Language changes over time, especially whether words and terms are polite or offensive. Our goal is not perfection but rather to be aware of how language choices can inadvertently dehumanize people and take steps to correct them.
How we treat our clients is most important. We strive to use the suggested language in the right-hand column below in all communications to reflect and reinforce respect for our clients.
Does it really matter?
The difference between saying “A person experiencing homelessness” instead of “a homeless person” may seem academic. Consider the importance of not letting “homeless” be the first thing we say: By putting the person first, we signal that the person is more important than their condition of being housed or unhoused. The person is the most important part of the sentence, not their circumstances.
Here are some examples of person-centered terms that we use. While not a comprehensive list, this is a great start for terms we come up against most often in our work.
| DO NOT USE | INSTEAD USE |
| An inmate, a former inmate, a convict or ex-convict, a prisoner, an incarcerated person | A person who is/was incarcerated, a person who is/was detained |
| Drug addict, alcoholic, addict, drug abuser, or any of these terms with “former” before them | A person with a substance use disorder, a person with a history of substance abuse, a person in recovery from drug/alcohol addiction |
| Handicapped, disabled person | Whenever possible, describe in more detail, for example: A person who is hearing-impaired. If not possible, say a person living with a disability. |
| Homeless, homeless person | Person without housing, person experiencing homelessness, person without stable housing |
| An insane woman, a mentally ill person | A person living with mental illness, a person having a mental health crisis |
| Poor people | People living below the poverty level, person with low income |
What are some other resources?
The District of Columbia publishes a guideline of terms with a simple, easy-to-navigate layout.
The National Association of Community Health Centers has a much more detailed style guide that provides deeper context as well as many examples.