The provincial government says the issue of providing supports and services to vulnerable people is a complex one involving numerous partners, but it has taken important steps in removing the stigma attached to mental health and addictions.

A segment of the marginalized sector often hang pretty close to The Gathering Place near The Basilica, a situation with which not everyone is comfortable.

Government says it has, over the past several years, expanded the number of harm reduction teams and mobile crisis response teams, and has established the new mental health addictions hospital.

It says criticism that labels the work at The Gathering Place as enabling criminal behavior can only further stigmatize the individuals who are trying to use their services to break the cycle of homelessness.

Government also says homelessness is not something that has been imported or concentrated in the downtown core by design, rather the nature of homelessness is that it is most visible and active in close proximity to health, housing and other community-based supports.