A resident of tent city blames the continued stigma around mental illness for his homelessness.

Leo Beluse says his former landlord tolerated his drug and alcohol addictions for more than 20 years.

But he says the words “mental illness” changed everything.

“I was always an alcoholic, always a drug addict, but once she found out I had a mental illness…She said I might be capable of anything and she wanted me evicted,” he said. “And I am very surprised that the landlord tenancies board believed all the false accusations. It all really surprised me. I mean, she knew me for all those 22 years, and yet all of a sudden I’d lost my mind.”

Beluse, meanwhile, says it was all a blessing in disguise, adding no shelter can replace the sense of community that’s spreading around the Colonial Building in downtown St. John’s.

“They were gonna put me in a shelter, but then, divine intervention kicked in and they stuck me in tent city,” he said. “I’ve never been treated with so much kindness, generosity in my entire life. It’s like I got dropped in to Heaven. I’m homeless, but man, instead of putting me down they gave me a hand up and I’ve been treated like gold ever since.”

As for the bathroom situation, two port-a-potties donated Friday will stay for now.

The city also reopened the public bathrooms in Bannerman Park as of 4 p.m. Saturday, saying they’ll stay open 24/7 “with enhanced cleaning and security.”