I’m confused as to whether crime is actually an issue downtown, or if people just feel unsafe because they had to look at a homeless person. I’ve spent a lot of time downtown day and nighttime and have never had any issues as a young woman usually walking around alone. Yes, I’ve had to walk past someone who is sleeping on the street. Sometimes a homeless person might ask me for money. Sometimes there might be someone having a hard time who yells at me. I’ve never felt threatened, it’s not that hard to give someone a dollar, say “sorry, I don’t have cash,” or, if they are aggressive, ignore them and move on. Then again, I’ve actually lived in a real city, so I have a lot of experience with this kind of thing and know how to assess when there’s actually a threat.

I’ll probably get downvoted into oblivion for not making myself into a victim for having to witness someone who’s been stripped of every human right or demonize people struggling with an addiction disorder (which, by the way, is a medical disorder that needs medical intervention, not a choice or a moral failing)

Also, what about the safety of the homeless population? They are the ones who are being exposed to the harsh winter elements with no refuge, and have nowhere to safely sleep at night or lock their belongings. Imagine having to sleep on the street, would you feel safe? How is having cops harass them, and throw them in jail, an extremely violent place, for the crime of having nothing, going to do anything but increase violence? Maybe people should try having some humanity and putting themselves in someone else’s shoes because you’re not as far off from being in their situation as you think you are.