Abstract
Despite sharing similar struggles of financial instability and systemic exploitation, low-income workers and unhoused people often remain divided. This holds back these
two oppressed populations from their collective potential to challenge the systems of oppression and advocate for change. This research investigates the causes of this division
and the perceptions of the working-class, focusing on the roles of stigma, identity, and how policies are built to reinforce hegemonic ideologies when it comes to these two
populations. Using theories on hegemony and racialized spaces along with qualitative interviews with working class people, this study explores how societal narratives, and
systematic policies contribute to the perceptions of low-income workers aiding in this division. This research also highlights opportunities for destigmatization and community
building. It proposes strategies for building solidarity to empower both groups while highlighting the importance of mutual empathy, community, and understanding to
challenge systemic exploitation and achieve reform