2 Issues
2 Issues raised here are the general question of dealing with poverty and/or mental illness etc.
The other is the specific issue of this community.
For the time being I will leave the former alone, but address the latter.
***
There will always be poverty (duh); and there will always be relatively nicer, posher areas, and those that are more middling or bit needy.
That however, does not mean than any area needs to be inordinately a dumping ground for those society has been unwilling or unable to integrate.
I think DT was on point when he said that this is largely about concentration of social services/hostels/shelters etc. in one area.
I think I would focus first on Seaton House, which remains a very large (excessively so) facility that really drags on the area; and being so big it can't help but lose some folks in its bureaucracy not offering them the help and attention they so obviously need.
Doesn't help either that the buildings stand out like a sore thumb.
My thought here is the facility should be split into 3 with 2/3 of the facilities moving to other areas near central Toronto, that are not over-serviced in the same way. Move 1 facility to near Yonge/Bloor, hiding on Hayden or Scollard or something. Move another to the Annex or even Rosedale
, but near Yonge, tucked into a side street with architecture that blends in seamlessly to the greater community.
Keep one facility on George, but not the current site.
Instead, buy up the beautiful old homes to the south that have been abandoned or are in severe need of work.
Restore them and move the remainder of Seaton House in there. Selling off the original site for upscale fully detached homes.
That would probably do wonders.
The Regent Park redevelopment will doubtless help.
But there are 2 other drags, one to the north is St. Jamestown.
The other to the south is Moss Park.
In the case of the former, the buildings themselves aren't so bad, they just need a good clean-up etc. etc.; but the area needs some work.
Simple and easy, reintegrate the area with the broader neighbourhood, putting the through streets back in wherever possible.
Remove the deck over Earl Street that makes it look like private road, and punch it through to Parliament on the back end.
Expand and clean-up St. Jamestown West Park (demolished the neglected heritage bldg in the middle of the Sherbourne side).
Refurb/Modernize Sherbourne Station which just looks like its in a neglected hood.
And
Finish the Rec. Center, building the long promised pool for the area.
***
Over at Moss Park, same idea, but honestly I'd tear it down and rebuild in phases.
Put the 2 north-south streets through again right away, since there's room (Ontario and Berkley?)
And put an E-W street through when redevelopment permits.
***
Lastly, the other problem shelter for size and appearance is Maxwell Meighan (the Sally Ann one)
Same deal as Seaton. Divide it into 2.
Move 1/2 out the area to a new facility that fits better into its landscape.
Rebuild the current one at 1/2 the size with a much more attractive facade and with better facilities to help those it serves.
***
All in all I don't think it needs to cost a penny over a $Billion, money well spent!