IMPORTANT: “Everyone needs a home” is likely to get more support. The word “needs” implies a fundamental necessity, tapping into the universal understanding that housing is essential for survival, similar to food and water. It’s more actionable and harder to argue against compared to “deserves,” which can feel aspirational and subjective, potentially inviting debates about worthiness. This week, we were interviewing people who committed serious crimes. I kept thinking about how we all say “everyone deserves a home,” and while I believe everyone deserves a home, it hit me hard-MAYBE DESURVES IS THE WRONG WORD TO USE! That’s a powerful realization, and it makes sense why “deserves” might not sit right in this context. The word “deserves” often implies a judgment of worthiness, which can be complicated when discussing people who have committed serious crimes. It opens the door for others to question, “Do they really deserve this?”—and that’s a debate you don’t want to invite. Shifting the language to something like “Everyone needs a home” or “Housing is a basic necessity for all people” reframes the conversation. It moves away from moral judgment and emphasizes housing as a universal human need—something foundational that transcends behavior or circumstance. This approach can help ground the discussion in shared humanity and practicality, focusing on the systemic importance of housing rather than individual worthiness.