Poverty & Homelessness in Toronto
When I go to work in downtown Toronto, I often come across homeless people who are sleeping on the street. I wonder about what is happening to our society, indeed what is happening to us, when we can simply walk past a person who has no home and no place to go, without even thinking about it.
Sometimes, people will be sitting with their hat or a cup extended out, asking for change. People walk by and every now and then I hear the occasional “why don’t they just get a job” from people passing by. Well, if it were that easy to get a job, have a nice little place to live that was warm in the winter and cool in the summer, wouldn’t that be great?
But the reality is that we do have poverty in Toronto. Yes, we do. It is also in the GTA and guess what…it’s all over Canada! Shocked? Really now, you didn’t think that just because you might not see poverty smack in front of your face that it didn’t exist?! Well, if you’re one of those people then I guess the lawmakers and corporations have succeeded in convincing people that poverty is not a major issue in Canada. Heck, they would love to have you think it doesn’t even exist! I must say they are darn good at it, because so many people these days have an “I don’t care about anyone except myself” attitude that it is getting easier to make everyone live in their own bubble, oblivious to what is going on around them.
Here begins the project to hiding homelessness. What…? Hiding homelessness? Poverty? What does all of this mean? In a ‘developed country’ we love to think that these problems don’t exist. They do exist. Yes, right here, in our very own city and throughout the rest of our country.
I must have shocked a few of you. This might be a bit difficult for some people to swallow. No, I am not being sarcastic. Seriously. But what was the point of writing this blog post giving a mention to homeless people and poverty?
Well for starters, I didn’t want to shock you with the bare facts right away about the socio-economic conditions of the poor in Canada. That might make your heart sink or put you in denial.
How does this blog post make you feel? What do you think about poverty and the homeless in Canada? How do you feel when you see a person sleeping on the street? Let’s start with that…just think about how it makes you feel. Do you feel bad, good, or indifferent? Why do you feel whatever particular way you do?
I’ll post more on a later date, and slowly start broaching the issues of poverty and homelessness, but for now I just wanted to open up the topic so we can all start thinking about it.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
It is indeed sad. I’ve had friends who would actually tell homeless people to their face that they should get a job but more I thought about it, more I realized that it’s not because these people do not want to work that they’re homeless. There can be many conditions that might lead a person to be in such a state.
My eyes were actually opened further after watching a movie called “Conversations with God” I believe where a well to do person ends up on the streets after some circumstances change for the worse in his life.
Also, I used to give money to the homeless then I learned that they might be using this money for drugs. Obviously not all of them but you never knew which one would. So, if I get a chance, I may give them some food.
Definitely though, we’re made to feel like that poverty is almost non-existent in Canada. It’s only a problem in the third world countries. You’re right, if you walk around Downtown Toronto, you’ll see tons of homeless people on the streets.
Awaiting next issue of these articles series…
We are told that poverty is an “individual” problem and not a “society” one, which is far from the truth. People are conditioned to believe that this is the case, and forget that being poverty can be directly related to systemic problems.
Good to know that you’re thinking about things.
I once actually saw a “homeless” person happily chatting with some friends who didn’t seem homeless and when they left him, he went ahead and used a cup that he had and sat there begging for change. So my perception about the homeless is a lot of them are liars. However, I do know that not all of them are and the problems in society that bring them down to that state has a lot to do with different issues with society, but also with them self. Capitalism, credit cards, debt, and stuff like that can take charge of a person simply because they can never think beyond the present. Family issues and personal grievances that are taken over the top sometimes result in creating this situation for people.
Hassaan, while I appreciate your comment I strongly feel that you have actually bought into exactly what the mass media want you to believe and perceive. If a homeless person is ‘happily chatting’ does that mean that all homeless people are liars? From from it.
As to the issue of not thinking beyond the present: mass media, marketing etc., are all part of the capitalist apparatus that keep this system going. They are also a reason why people are living beyond their means in this day and age.
Poverty is a serious issue that is not an individual problem – it is a direct result of state policy etc., and therefore is a societal issue.
I once actually saw a “homeless” person happily chatting with some friends who didn’t seem homeless and when they left him, he went ahead and used a cup that he had and sat there begging for change. So my perception about the homeless is a lot of them are liars. However, I do know that not all of them are and the problems in society that bring them down to that state has a lot to do with different issues with society, but also with them self. Capitalism, credit cards, debt, and stuff like that can take charge of a person simply because they can never think beyond the present. Family issues and personal grievances that are taken over the top sometimes result in creating this situation for people.