Language shapes how we see the world, and the people in it. Something as simple as the way in which we use a phrase or a term can impact our views and perceptions. Across the homelessness sector, there is a shift towards using more person-centred language, for example describing someone as a “person experiencing homelessness” instead of a “homeless person.” The principle behind using person-first language is that it highlights that homelessness is something that a person may experience for a period of time, but it is not what defines them.
At Simon Communities of Ireland, we wanted to know if this shift in language impacted empathy and public attitudes towards homelessness. We commissioned IPSOS to carry out a survey to ask just this. In November 2025, IPSOS surveyed 1,022 people through their online Omnibus platform. Half of the nationally representative sample received questions using the term “homeless person,” and the other half received identical questions using “person experiencing homelessness.” Participants were asked how responsible they felt various factors such as economic conditions, government policy, societal factors, and the individual themselves were for a person’s homelessness. They were also asked how much they would care about that individual’s safety, their housing situation improving, and their own personal safety.
The research found that across both groups, economic factors and government policy were seen the most responsible for homelessness, while the individual themselves was least responsible. Most respondents also reported caring more about the individual’s safety and housing situation than about their own personal safety. These findings indicate that most adults in Ireland see homelessness as a societal failure, rather than a personal one.
But how did language impact responses?
Those presented with “homeless person” were statistically significantly more likely to attribute blame to the individual for their situation. Those presented with “person experiencing homelessness,” were statistically significantly more likely to care more about the individual and their safety and their housing situation improving.
The research shows that it’s not only what you say, but how you say it, that matters.
While the study was not designed to capture why the use of “person experiencing homelessness” triggered different responses, one hypothesis is that “experiencing homelessness” may be viewed as a more temporary situation that someone is in, while “homeless person” may be seen as a more fixed identity. However, further research would be needed to explore this.
At Simon Communities of Ireland, we will continue to use person-first language in our communications, and we encourage media, policymakers, and the public to do the same. Homelessness is not a personal failing, but the result of systemic issues such as rising rents, an inadequate supply of social housing, and policy decisions that have failed to keep pace with need. It’s time that our language reflects this.
Author: Julia Corey & Ben Curtis
