Humanitarian crisis in the heart of town

Following a damning report from the city ombudsman, La Presse has a photo essay on what it’s calling the faces of a humanitarian crisis – the homeless Indigenous people who have been clustering around Park Avenue and Milton since the Open Door shelter moved to the area.

What I miss seeing in any mention of this situation is whether anyone has asked what those people want. It can’t be beyond our capabilities to provide a building where they could both live individually and socialize together, which I imagine is the kind of thing needed, with some social support for those dealing with addictions or physical compromises. But I haven’t asked, I’m merely making assumptions here. Somebody should.