What do you call this person?

[English4everyone]

What do you call a very very poor person who doesn't have anything and sleeps on the street, usually in a carton box?

[buggles]

What do you call a very very poor person who doesn't have anything and sleeps on the street, usually in a carton box?

It depends how charitable you're feeling! In the UK, we refer to "homeless people" which is non-judgemental, but they can also be called "tramps" or even "derelicts". In the US, they use words like "hobo" and "bum", while "vagrant" is used in both the UK and in the US.

buggles (not a teacher).

[emsr2d2]

I think you mean "cardboard box". I generally refer to them as "homeless people" or "the homeless". In third-world countries, I'm aware of terms such as "street kids".

In the UK, there was a very PC (politically correct) term coined, which escapes me now, but there are some suggestions here: Politically correct way of saying homeless without being offensive? - Yahoo! Answers

[Barb_D]

It depends how charitable you're feeling! In the UK, we refer to "homeless people" which is non-judgemental, but they can also be called "tramps" or even "derelicts". In the US, they use words like "hobo" and "bum", while "vagrant" is used in both the UK and in the US.

buggles (not a teacher).

In the US, we call them "homeless" as well. I haven't heard the words "hobo" used in my life except in fiction books set in the past when "riding the rails" was considered romantic. We use "bum" for many people, including an athlete who is playing poorly or your Congressman.

We have a PC phrase too, but I can't think of it either.

[HanibalII]

'Homeless' is also how it's said in Australia. However, if people choose to be more offencive, 'Hobo', 'Derro', 'Bum', and numerous others are used....It's sad that there are more offensive words to call them than nice/neutral words...

[Barb_D]

That PC term has the word "diplaced" in it, I think. I just can't remember it right now, though.

[emsr2d2]

The UK PC term was something like "domicilely challenged" or "between homes", but neither of them is exactly right. The latter was connected to "between jobs" meaning unemployed.

[Tdol]

I've seen unhoused used too.

[BobK]

...
We have a PC phrase too, but I can't think of it either.

Could it be - <hawk, spit> - 'unhomed'?

b

[BobK]

[In Australia]..'Hobo', 'Derro', 'Bum', and numerous others are used....

I don't think anyone has mentioned 'derelict' yet - now archaic in Br Eng except when it refers to buildings or property. But that's obviously where 'derro' came from.

b