My upbringing was largely in Kingston, Ontario - a town that primarily has a large population of upper middle class, privileged people and as a result, I did not empathize with the struggles of unhoused individuals and or those who are struggling with drug and mental health issues, until I relocated to downtown Toronto after high school. My experiences as a child had distorted my perception of the destitute and unhoused population because I erroneously believed that their life was a result of the poor choices they made. I was blissfully unaware how some people grow up in vastly different circumstances than my peers and I did and. Many of them them grew up struggling to afford or access basic necessities, had abusive or absent parents and never got compassion from anyone. They lacked the support system to help them when they developed mental or substance abuse issues. After some time volunteering at a local homeless shelter, and conversing with these people, my views began to radically shift.

Who is homeless in Canada?. HomelessHub. (n.d.-b). https://homelesshub.ca/collection/homelessness-101/who-is-homeless-in-canada/

Homelessness can be viewed through the lens of conflict theory. The economic disparity and struggle for limited resources has resulted in a capitalistic economic system which prioritizes profits over anything else. Wealth and the means of production are owned by a few and those who work minimum wage jobs in corporations or those who can't get a job struggle to secure affordable housing and find themselves homeless. The rising costs of housing and landlords who increase rents to increase the amount of profit they generate from their rental properties also perpetuate this inequality.

A structural functionalist view on the societal issue of homelessness is viewing a dysfunctional, abusive parent as the root cause of homelessness. Dysfunctional, neglectful or abusive parenting can lead to children who perform poorly academically, develop mental illnesses and start self medicating via drugs. This may eventually lead to them becoming drug addicts and ending up on the streets as unhoused individuals.

The issue of homelessness can be

Everyday interactions that occur between the homeless population and passers by who give them a scornful look or rudely tell them to 'move along' or 'leave' when they ask for change are a prime example of symbolic interactionism. The tone, gesture, and facial interaction all convey judgement, and reinforces the social hierarchy that exists between the individual and the homeless person.

In my own personal life, I have realized I behave in certain ways because of symbolic interactionism. For example, I speak and write using very formal language in academic or professional settings but then adapt my speech and tone when I am conversing with friends.