Question; re: Hobos Vs Homeless?

[nao57]

So I was curious to see what others think about this idea...

Basically I was watching that Reacher TV show. And in the show he tells people, I'm not homeless, I'm a hobo.

Do people really consider homeless and hobo 2 separate things? I wanted to gather data on it, and see what people thought. It would make a difference in what people thought. People wouldn't want to say they are a hobo if everyone thinks they are the same thing.

But you've also got people like, 'snow birds' that do RVing and stuff when they get old, often in places like Arizona. And that's after they've worked all their life. And not sure if that's different or part of it too?

I have a job, and housing. So I'm not either of these. But I confess that the idea of traveling around camping for several months each year sounds fun to me. Ever since I was a kid I always thought, it sounds fun to go camping. It probably doesn't sound fun to everyone though.

What do you think?

 

[Debbie292d]

A hobo is slang for someone who is homeless. I wouldn't use that term except for someone who purposely spends their life on the streets and that's all they want in life.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Good question.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I had an answer.. but with consideration, decided to see what other community members define the difference as.

 

[azurbanclucker]

My take.

Homeless folks are just that. People without homes. For whatever reason by choice or circumstance, they do not have a place of their own. The homeless generally stay in one geographic location where they try and survive on local services, begging, and may even have a job, but just can't get a stable home to call their own.

Hobos are also homeless, but they are more vagabonds. They travel doing odd jobs and drift from town to town as they decide to (or as they get chased out for causing problems). They seem to be more likely to commit petty crimes for survival and move on quickly. You never really hear people calling anyone hobos anymore, it's a term that's kind of gone out of style. It was also mostly an American term referring to tramps. It's a negative connotaton or a term for a scumbag. I think travelers, gypsies, and swaggies (australian term) all are under this umbrella


Snowbirds are neither. They HAVE homes. Often 2. They travel between them seasonally to take advantage of the best weather. "Who cares if it's -39 in Minneapolis? It's sunny and 76 in Arizona! Let's go!" The journey is part of the adventure so they tow their RV down or their motor home and haul it back with them when they're done. They are far from homeless.

Lots of people live on the road in RV's, motor homes, converted busses, camper vans, etc. Semi permanently or permanently. Just depends on how tied down you need to be. They have homes, they take them with them. One of my best friends spends 6-8 mos a year driving around a converted bluebird bus as a traveling command center. He's got everytrhing he needs and spends his time on the road photographing America in his off time from being a programmer (starlink is a wonder). He spends Oct-Dec home here in the valley to do maintenance on his rig and holidays, then he's back at it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My take.

Homeless folks are just that. People without homes. For whatever reason by choice or circumstance, they do not have a place of their own. The homeless generally stay in one geographic location where they try and survive on local services, begging, and may even have a job, but just can't get a stable home to call their own.

Hobos are also homeless, but they are more vagabonds. They travel doing odd jobs and drift from town to town as they decide to (or as they get chased out for causing problems. I think travelers, gypsies, and swaggies (australian term) all are under this umbrella


Snowbirds are neither. They HAVE homes. Often 2. They travel between them seasonally to take advantage of the best weather. "Who cares if it's -39 in Minneapolis? It's sunny and 76 in Arizona! Let's go!" The journey is part of the adventure so they tow their RV down or their motor home and haul it back with them when they're done. They are far from homeless.

Lots of people live on the road in RV's, motor homes, converted busses, camper vans, etc. Semi permanently or permanently. Just depends on how tied down you need to be. They have homes, they take them with them.

This is how I've always seen the differences too in my books and shows.