I do volunteer work for a couple homeless outreaches, do food hand outs, etc and in Toronto violence against homeless people is VERY common it just rarely ever gets reported unless someone dies or a weapon is involved. It’s an almost weekly thing where I see a couple people who’ve been beaten while sleeping outside. They get their stuff stolen constantly (honestly, who steals from a homeless person?).

The majority of the time if someone reports it to our wonderful TPS it gets dismissed. I know the guy who died, he was attacked right directly in front of City Hall. He was messed up, went to the hospital and they let him go, said he was fine. Clearly he wasn’t fine. It’s dangerous sleeping outside in the city at night and it isn’t much better in our shelters. people get attacked there too.

If you see someone sleeping outside at night, leave them be. don’t bother them. If you want to drop off your leftovers or whatever fine but don’t wake the person up, just drop it and go. If you see someone sleeping during the day it’s likely because they’re afraid to sleep at night. leave them be.