[mplewis]

80% of homelessness in the USA is transitional, i.e. someone lost a job or had an injury and needs time to get back on their feet.

[DoreenMichele]

Transient: a person who is staying or working in a place for only a short time.

I don't think most people mean someone is only temporarily homeless when they call them transients.

[createaccount99]

In the same spirit, I never really associate the meaning of "transient" as "someone passing through," rather it's just a word for "homeless person" for me.