wolfewood
Active Member
What is your solution? Judging those who actually deal with this? Making people feel bad for no reason?
Better fund TCHC to bring the existing network to a state of good repair. Restore federal and provincial funding so that new social housing builds aren't reliant on a private developer (see Regent and Alexandra Parks, as well as Lawrence Heights). Increase funding for mental health services and drug treatment centres - as well as safe injection sites. Also stop the closure of shelter spaces and/or add more beds to the existing system. More importantly, improve these services in suburban Toronto so that the downtown east isn't bearing an unnecessary burden like it is now. Conversely, make it easier for existing residents to stay in the event of redevelopment. Not in the same place as before, of course, but within the neighbourhood. These are vulnerable groups and removing them from the places they know and want to live in is unhealthy and difficult to deal with. It's hard enough being forced to move when your home is redeveloped, it is even harder when you have a drug addiction or are on OW/ODSP.
The solutions above would actually help the people living in the downtown east and allow them to leave on their own terms. Forcing them out with no plans to help will only exacerbate the problem while pushing it out of sight. If pointing that out means I make people feel bad "for no reason," well maybe there is a reason what I'm saying makes people feel bad.