Public opinion and the media have the ability to influence the creation and implementation of homelessness policies due to the fact that “homelessness” encompasses such a vast area of policy domain related to social welfare. Similarly, the policy communities that can come about in support of this topic are numerous and can involve proponents of topics related to “poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental health and substance abuse disorders, and ability of individuals to cope with these factors” (O’Connell, 2003, p. 159). Birkland describes this concept as the interactions between actors in the policy process and subtly assumes that this can expedite and advance policy proposals. More specifically, public opinion may be gauged by citizen