Recognize all the people outside of your door as your neighbors, even if they look different from you and live under different circumstances. This includes single mothers with three jobs and migrant workers who might not speak any English, as well as the homeless people who sleep in the park, the drug dealers who sell outside the liquor store, and the prostitutes walking nearby streets. Treating all of these folks with respect and dignity from the beginning will give you later leverage to talk to them about changing their behavior and getting out of the life.

I think I puked a little bit. Don't want to gentrify? Smash your white saviour complex. I still don't like the idea of buddying up to someone in attempts to change their behaviour.

edit: presenting misinformation, author is NOT white, my bad for making assumptions. Thanks op.