Indian Man's Video Exposes Canada's Homelessness Crisis

A viral video from Toronto, shared by an Indian man named Nitish Advitiy, has ignited a global conversation about poverty and homelessness in Canada. The Instagram clip, which shows a man washing clothes in a public fountain, has garnered over 187,000 views and sparked heated debates about the state of homelessness in one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Titled “Poverty in Canada: Toronto’s Homeless People,” the video challenges perceptions of Canada as a land of universal opportunity and exposes the harsh realities faced by its unhoused population.

The Video That Shocked Social Media

In the short clip, filmed in Toronto, a man is seen scrubbing clothes with soap and detergent in a public fountain, with a laundry bag nearby filled with more items to wash. Speaking in Hindi, Advitiy expresses disbelief, saying, “I never imagined I would see such a scene here. This person is, I guess, homeless, and this is the condition of the homeless here.” The caption accompanying the post reads, “Poor people in Canada wash their clothes like this,” while the on-screen text labels the scene as indicative of “Poverty in Canada.”

The video, posted in late August 2025, quickly went viral, amassing thousands of comments and reactions across platforms. For many, it was a jarring reminder that poverty exists even in developed nations like Canada, often hidden behind the country’s reputation for prosperity and inclusivity.

A Growing Crisis in Numbers

The video comes at a time when Canada’s homelessness crisis is worsening. According to the federal Everyone Counts 2024 survey, nearly 60,000 people experience homelessness on any given night across the country. In Toronto alone, the unhoused population has more than doubled in three years, rising from 7,300 in 2021 to an estimated 15,400 in 2024. These numbers reflect a confluence of challenges: skyrocketing housing costs, economic pressures, mental health and substance abuse issues, and systemic inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

The footage of a man washing clothes in a fountain underscores the lack of basic amenities for the homeless. Without access to affordable housing or public facilities like laundromats, many are forced to resort to makeshift solutions in public spaces, highlighting the gaps in Canada’s social safety net.

Social Media Reactions: A Divided Discourse

The video sparked a spectrum of reactions online, reflecting both empathy and defensiveness. Some viewers expressed shock and heartbreak. One Instagram user wrote, “I thought Canada was a land of opportunities, this is heartbreaking to watch,” while another noted, “This shows that no country is perfect, poverty exists everywhere.” Others drew parallels to global struggles, with one commenter stating, “Seeing this makes me realise how similar struggles are across the world, whether in India or abroad.”

However, not all reactions were sympathetic. Some users criticized the video for oversimplifying the issue or unfairly singling out Canada. “Homelessness is a global issue, not just Canada. We should not judge an entire nation from one video,” one person argued. Another remarked, “This is not poverty, this is neglect of social responsibility,” shifting blame to systemic failures rather than individual circumstances. A more critical take emerged from a user who said, “Toronto is known for its large homeless population, but the government must do more to provide shelters.”

The video also prompted comparisons to poverty in India, with some comments reflecting cultural tensions. One user wrote, “Aur ye log Bharat ko gareeb bolte hain” (And these people call India poor), highlighting perceived hypocrisy in how poverty is discussed globally. Another commenter sarcastically noted, “These Indians never understand basic civic sense. Oh wait, he is not an Indian!” pointing to the complexity of cultural assumptions in the discourse.

Systemic Failures and Public Frustration

The debate triggered by Advitiy’s video taps into broader frustrations with Canada’s approach to homelessness. A 2022 Leger poll for Postmedia revealed that 58% of Canadians view homelessness as a problem in their communities, with 38% linking it to increased violence. Only 7% believe the government is effectively addressing the crisis, while 16% feel government policies are making it worse. Despite significant investments—such as the $562.2 million allocated in the last federal budget for chronic homelessness and billions more for affordable housing—the problem continues to grow.

Tent cities, once confined to specific areas like Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside or Toronto’s Allan Gardens, are now appearing in cities like Halifax, Charlottetown, and Kingston. Reports of violence, disorder, and inadequate shelter conditions have fueled public discontent, with many Canadians feeling that their governments are failing to act decisively.

A Global Issue, Not a Canadian Exception

Advitiy’s video also highlights the universality of homelessness. While the footage shocked some viewers accustomed to seeing Canada as a prosperous nation, others pointed out that similar scenes are common worldwide. In India, for instance, the 2011 census reported 1.77 million homeless people, or 0.15% of the population, often living on streets, railway platforms, or other public spaces. Like Canada, India faces challenges with urbanization, lack of affordable housing, and systemic barriers to accessing services, such as identity documentation required for government aid.

The comparison sparked by the video underscores a key point: homelessness is not a failure of one nation but a global challenge rooted in structural inequalities. As one commenter noted, “At least he has water to wash, in some places even that is a luxury,” highlighting the varying degrees of hardship faced by the unhoused worldwide.

Calls for Action

The viral video has amplified calls for coordinated action to address Canada’s homelessness crisis. Community groups and officials are urging governments to invest in long-term solutions, such as increasing affordable housing, improving access to mental health and addiction services, and creating more shelters with comprehensive support. The footage also raises questions about public spaces and civic responsibility, as the act of washing clothes in a fountain sparked debates about both desperation and perceived misuse of public infrastructure.

Advitiy’s decision to share the video has been both praised and criticized. Some see it as a vital act of awareness-raising, with one commenter urging, “Urge all the people to record and bring such incidents forward.” Others, however, caution against sensationalizing individual struggles, arguing that it risks reducing a complex issue to a viral moment.

Conclusion

Nitish Advitiy’s video has done more than just go viral—it has forced a reckoning with Canada’s homelessness crisis and the broader global reality of poverty. By capturing a single, poignant moment of a man washing clothes in a Toronto fountain, the video has sparked a necessary debate about systemic failures, societal perceptions, and the urgent need for solutions. While opinions differ on whether the video unfairly targets Canada or sheds light on a universal issue, one thing is clear: it has brought the plight of the unhoused into sharp focus, challenging us all to confront the uncomfortable truths about inequality in our societies.

Sources: Firstpost America, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, News18, India Today