what do we think of homeless people

Someone is "homeless" when they do not have a place to live that is like what we just described as "home." The obvious "homeless people" are those who are sleeping on the street, in doorways and alleys, on park benches or behind bushes. Camping out by choice is not "homelessness" because you have a place to live, you just choose not to use it -- temporarily or long term. Someone staying in a homeless shelter, a tent, an abandoned building, or a friend's unfinished basement is still homeless. This is called "substandard housing." Even "couch surfing," or staying with a series of friends or family, may qualify as homelessness if you have no choice, no privacy, no place that is "yours", or you're uncertain how long each couch is available.