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Published : 29 Aug 2025, 03:16 PM
An Instagram video showing a homeless man washing his clothes in a public fountain in Toronto has stirred discussion about poverty in Canada.
The clip, posted by Nitish Advitiy, an Indian man living in Canada, shows the man bending over the fountain, rinsing his clothes and later splashing water on his face.
Speaking in Hindi behind the camera, Advitiy said in translation: “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.”
Text over the video read, “Poverty in Canada: Toronto’s homeless people”. The caption added: “Poor people in Canada wash their clothes like this”.
The post has been viewed more than 187,000 times and has drawn a range of reactions.
Some viewers expressed dismay. “I thought Canada was a land of opportunities, this is heartbreaking to watch,” one wrote.
Another said, “This shows that no country is perfect, poverty exists everywhere.”
Others framed the issue differently.
“This is not poverty, this is neglect of social responsibility,” one commenter said.
Another argued, “Homelessness in North America is more about the system failing people than individuals failing themselves.”
There were also cautions against drawing broad conclusions.
“Homelessness is a global issue, not just Canada. We should not judge an entire nation from one video,” one person wrote.
Another added, “Toronto is known for its large homeless population, but the government must do more to provide shelters.”
However, some also left comments like, “At least he had access to clean water” and “Maybe some Afghan or Syrian refugees,” after seeing the video.
