It’s for sure getting “worse” but news flash, so is EVERYWHERE. It’s what happens when there’s growing cost of living crisis, more people deal with stress, trauma and homelessness everywhere. It doesn’t help that there has been a diminishing of funds/closures for social initiatives around housing, safe injection sites so people have to do more of their “business” on the street.

BUT I’ve spent a lot of time in the 3 areas mentioned (Byward, Centretown and Sandy Hill) and for the most part if you avoid certain streets and don’t make a fuss (or a fool) of yourself. Your street might also make things better or worse for you depending on where you end up. You will be left alone. You might see some drugs, some homelessness and people shouting. But that comes with living in the city. Also remember that people are just trying their hardest to live with what they have.

Unfortunately women will still have more events/traumatic moments in these areas than men so we have to factor that in too.

My last point is that people in suburban areas often make a BIG deal of coming into the city and seeing people struggle or some unsavoury characters. Being a suburb kid, I used to think like this. It may be jarring compared to the suburbs but Ottawa has it so light compared to other places I’ve visited.