Words

Earlier this evening, I was listening to an interview where the person interviewed mentioned that there is no current cure for homelessness. I disliked the usage of the word "cure" linked to the state of homelessness. The usage seems to indicate that the state of being homeless is a disease or ailment. I think a better word would have been "solution". The word "cure" means to relieve a person of the symptoms of a disease or condition and the word "solution" means to solve a problem or deal with a difficult situation (yes, I looked them up to validate myself).

The issue I have in linking the word "cure" with "homelessness" also adds or reinforces the untouchable component to the unfortunate circumstances many people find themselves in. It alludes to disease and so, those finding themselves within that situation are also linked with disease. Of course, many may have ailments because of street life but it's more than that. It is the idea that the people themselves, because of the situation they are in, are synonymous with disease. They are disease not just diseased.

How then would a walking disease be treated by others who are people or human (those who have homes)? They would be avoided of course because their state of being might be catching which lends to a fear that I'm sure many have, that of becoming homeless. Well, it's one of mine, at least.

Words are powerful, often times, they mean much more than their definition.