[2] The statue has been described as a "visual translation" of the Gospel of Matthew passage in which Jesus tells his disciples, "as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me".

[2] Schmalz was inspired to create the statue after seeing a homeless person sleeping on a park bench in Toronto in 2012.

[4] Schmalz visited Pope Francis in Vatican City in November 2013 to present a miniature version of his statue.

Similarly, a spokesperson for St. Patrick's complimented the work but declined to purchase the cast due to ongoing renovations.

[5] Regis College, a Jesuit school of theology federated with the University of Toronto, acquired the first cast in 2013 and installed it outside its main entrance.

[2] Buck welcomed discussion about the sculpture and considers it a "Bible lesson for those used to seeing Jesus depicted in traditional religious art as the Christ of glory, enthroned in finery.

[6] A lightweight version of Homeless Jesus, made out of wood and fibreglass, was crafted by Schmalz at the request of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2017.

[4] Lennie Bennett, an art critic for the Tampa Bay Times noted that the statue was "technically well done", although also remarked that the design is "nothing new or interesting aesthetically".

[2] However, according to Buck, residents are often seen sitting on the bench alongside the statue, resting their hands on Jesus and praying.

[2] A proposal to install a cast at the Methodist Central Hall was rejected by Westminster City Council in 2016, who voiced concerns the statue would not maintain or improve the character or appearance of the Parliament Square Conservation Area.