They have homes, it's just that their home might be a tent under the on-ramp. Or a park bench. Or the city at large.
These people are your neighbors, your neighborhood is home to them, they just don't have houses.
These people are your neighbors, your neighborhood is home to them, they just don't have houses.
I think the best term that has the most impact is Sleeping Rough Outdoors. You read that and it does not matter what side you are one, you now how the person is living and it describes the plight that many homeless face when just needing to get some rest.
The concept you are describing is a "homebum" which describes a person who sticks to one area. This is different than a "hobo" who keeps moving and is not as much a nuisance of homeless. A "rubber tramp" is a homeless person who lives in a vehicle.
I think part of the linguistic shift is to imply social ownership. Unhoused describes both their state, but also a failure of someone who is responsible for housing them.