What is a disadvantaged community?
The term "disadvantaged community" is a generic term which refers to a group of people who:
- face special problems such a physical or mental disabilities
- lack money or economic support
- are politically deemed to be without sufficient power or other means of influence
the homeless
A person is generally defined as "homeless" when he or she has inadequate access to conventional shelter, in particular at night.
Being homeless doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as living on the streets. Homeless people could be staying in temporary accommodation, for example:
A homeless person could even be someone who does have a home, but whose home is unsafe, for example where there's the threat of violence. So it can be hard to tell when someone is at risk of becoming homeless or if they have already lost the economic security and the safety of a "home".
Being homeless is not always just about housing. It's also about missing a stable connection to a network of friends, family and the community.
Being homeless doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as living on the streets. Homeless people could be staying in temporary accommodation, for example:
- In a squat
- In an abandoned building
- With friends
- In a boarding-house
- In other assisted accommodation
- In a caravan
A homeless person could even be someone who does have a home, but whose home is unsafe, for example where there's the threat of violence. So it can be hard to tell when someone is at risk of becoming homeless or if they have already lost the economic security and the safety of a "home".
Being homeless is not always just about housing. It's also about missing a stable connection to a network of friends, family and the community.