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Jesus the Homeless

Jesus the Homeless, also known as Homeless Jesus, is a bronze sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz. It depicts Jesus as a homeless man sleeping on a park bench, with his face and hands covered by a blanket. The original was installed at the University of Toronto in early 2013. Since then, copies have been placed at churches, universities, and charitable organizations in North America and beyond, including Dublin and Rome. By early 2016, around 100 examples had been displayed worldwide.

Homeless Jesus bronze sculpture of a sleeping figure on a park bench, with wounded feet exposed at one end.
Homeless Jesus, a bronze sculpture of a sleeping figure on a bench.
May 2022 © Alan Ritchie · CC BY 2.0
Bronze Homeless Jesus sculpture of a covered figure lying on a slatted bench, with bare feet visible at one end.
The Homeless Jesus sculpture shows a covered figure resting on a bench, with only the bare feet visible.
October 2019 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Jesus the Homeless sculpture of a draped figure lying on a park bench against a white wall.
The Jesus the Homeless sculpture shows a draped figure lying on a park bench.
March 2026 © · CC0
Homeless Jesus sculpture showing a sleeping figure covered by a blanket on a park bench, with wounded feet visible.
Homeless Jesus by Timothy Schmalz depicted as a sleeping figure on a park bench.
October 2018 © Tom Parnell · CC BY-SA 2.0
Veiled Homeless Jesus sculpture covered by a blue tarp on a white stand along a paved path.
The veiled Homeless Jesus sculpture sits covered on a white stand beside a cordoned-off path.
November 2023 © · CC BY 4.0

Identification

TitleJesus the Homeless
TypeBronze sculpture
Alternative titlesHomeless Jesus; Jesús sin hogar; Jesús el sin hogar; Bezdomny Jezus; Bездомный Иисус; Jésus le sans-abri

Creator

ArtistTimothy Schmalz
Artist nationalityCanadian
Artist religionDevout Catholic

Historical context

Approximate number of copies worldwideAbout 100 by early 2016
Biblical referenceMatthew 8:20 and Matthew 25:40
ThemeHomelessness and care for the marginalized
Copies began being installed2014
First U.S. installationSt. Alban's Episcopal Church, Davidson, North Carolina, 2013
First installation outside North AmericaChrist Church in Dublin
First proposed locationsCathedral of St. Michael in Toronto; St. Patrick's Cathedral in Toronto
Original installation locationRegis College, University of Toronto, Toronto
Original installation dateEarly 2013

Discovery and provenance

Reason St. Patrick declinedOngoing reconstruction
Glasgow intermediaryFather Willie Slavin helped bring the sculpture to Scotland
Detroit donorAn anonymous alumnus of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Initial reactions to proposalsSt. Michael's Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral both declined to buy the cast
Reason St. Michael declinedThe response was not unanimous and restoration work was underway
Dedication at first U.S. installationInstalled as a memorial to parishioner Kate McIntyre, who had an affinity for public art
Original purchase priceUS$22,000

Physical characteristics

SubjectJesus Christ depicted as a homeless person sleeping on a park bench
PoseSleeping on a park bench
Facial featuresFace and hands hidden under a blanket
Identification clueCrucifixion wounds on the feet reveal Jesus's identity

Materials

MaterialBronze

Technique

FormatCast sculpture

Appearance

Intended effectProvocative; intended to challenge people
InterpretationDescribed as a visual translation of the Gospel of Matthew passage about serving 'the least of these'
Artistic styleContemporary religious/public sculpture with a provocative social-message focus

Location and ownership

Glasgow siteNelson Mandela Place, Glasgow, Scotland
Manila siteCathedral of Manila, Intramuros, Manila
Montreal siteIn front of Saint James United Church, Montreal, Quebec
Liverpool siteGardens of St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church, Liverpool
Notable locationsRome, near the Papal Office of Charities; Washington, D.C., on G Street in Chinatown
Denver siteFather Woody's Haven of Hope at 7th Street and Lipan Street, Denver, Colorado
Oklahoma City siteCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City main services building on Classen Boulevard
Buffalo siteSt. Paul's Cathedral, 139 Church Street at Church and Pearl Streets, downtown Buffalo; permanent site; National Historic Landmark
Known copies and locationsInstalled at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, North Carolina; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago headquarters; Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas; Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in downtown Detroit; Valparaiso University, Indiana; Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City main services building on Classen Boulevard; St. Anne Catholic Parish in Coppell, Texas; St. Peter's Church in Capernaum, Israel; First Community Church in Elyria, Ohio; Christ Church in Dublin; near the Papal Office of Charities in Rome; St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo, New York; Father Woody's Haven of Hope in Denver, Colorado; Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow; the gardens of St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church in Liverpool; Saint James United Church in Montreal; Cathedral of Manila in Intramuros, Manila; Washington, D.C., on G Street in Chinatown

History and restoration

Manila installation dateApril 2022; inaugurated and blessed by Archbishop of Manila Cardinal José Advincula on 10 April 2022, coinciding with Palm Sunday
Montreal contextInstalled before the celebration of the second World Day of the Poor
Montreal installation dateNovember 2019
Liverpool event contextInstalled during a homelessness conference organized by the parish church with participants from the public, private, and charitable sectors
Liverpool unveilingUnveiled by local residents and blessed by the Bishop of Liverpool
Liverpool installation dateApril 2019
Glasgow installation date7 December 2017
Manchester rejection reasonThe city felt the statue would not properly reflect nature
Manchester rejected alternative locationWestminster, outside Westminster Central Hall Methodist Church
Manchester intended locationNear St. Anne's Church
Oklahoma City traffic estimateApproximately 60,000 vehicles pass daily
Denver installation dateAugust 2017
Oklahoma City installation dateMay 2016
Buffalo installation timeInstalled during Holy Week 2015
Washington, D.C. visit by Pope FrancisPope Francis visited the sculpture during his 2015 visit to the United States
Pope Francis interpretationSeen as reaching out to outcasts around the world
Pope Francis reactionTouched the statue's knee, closed his eyes, and prayed
Pope Francis meeting with artistSchmalz visited Pope Francis at the Vatican in November 2013 and presented a miniature version of the sculpture
Vatican-area installationInstalled in March 2016 on Via della Conciliazione, leading to St. Peter's Basilica, near the Office of Papal Charities
Charleston installationPurchased in November 2014; seventh/eighth Jesus the Homeless statue in Charleston, West Virginia
First U.S. cast year2013
St. Michael installation alternativeRegis College, Jesuit School of Theology at the University of Toronto

Significance

Public reactionIn Hamilton, Canada, the sculpture was mistaken for a sleeping real person
Religious significanceInstalled and consecrated in many locations around the world