Homelessness: a proposal for a global definition and classification

On the base of an analysis of the definitions of homelessness currently in use, first a change of the notion homelessness to houselessness is proposed. Houseless persons are then defined as those sleeping rough or using public or private shelters. To better understand the causes of houselessness, its environment is involved in this classification under the notion of inadequate shelter. This comprises the following non-exclusive categories: risk of houselessness, concealed houselessness and substandard housing situations. This classification has the advantage to be adaptable to regional and national differences, while at the same time providing a global basis for data collection and comparison. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.