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Superstar
Richard: Why is it not 'safe' - do you have evidence of this. I agree that people may not feel comfortable but that's NOT the same thing as actually being unsafe.The fact of the matter is, it is not safe for those in the community to use parks with encampments and quite frankly I would not use them myself. I do not know why these people are there but I do not want to be harassed by persons on drugs or thinking they are talking to god and risk my safety.
"Those people' - as you call them - are probably camping for several reasons. They do not have permanent housing, shelters have restrictive rules (no dogs, out by 7 or 8am), shelters are crowded, shelters are not very safe if you are 'different' - gay, bi etc.
Of course, I would really prefer not to be reminded that we live in a very 'unfair' world where mentally ill people are not properly treated and cared for and where some of us have more than enough while others have far too little and I certainly have no magic remedy for the current situation (which is certainly not restricted to Toronto or Canada) but if you 'don't know why those people are there' you probably need to open your eyes and your mind a bit more.