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Danforth Avenue (or “The Danforth” as it is locally known) is situated in east end Toronto. It is peppered with trendy cafes and boutiques as well as superb restaurants and pubs. As Hogtown neighbourhoods go, The Danforth is something of a gem.

But there’s a section of the north sidewalk on Danforth Avenue between Main Street and Dawes Road that is now essentially a no-go zone.

A homeless encampment has taken over the sidewalk here. Illegal drug use is rampant; overdoses are commonplace. As you would expect, litter abounds – ranging from fast-food packaging to human waste. It is a miserable place, populated by so many people who have clearly made wrong turns in life.

Rebel News recently paid a visit to this section of Danforth Avenue. We wanted to speak to the unhappy campers here. While most declined to come on camera, those who did said the city’s homeless shelters are packed and they have no choice but to sleep on the streets. That may be feasible now, but what happens when winter sets in? Regardless, misery abounds.

But the vibe here changed for the worse when individuals who appeared to be drug dealers arrived. And they were wearing trouble on their shirts. Little wonder: nosey Parker reporters are not good for business. With zero law enforcement presence in the area, we decided to depart given that there have been reports about these people being weaponized. This patch of real estate truly is a no-go zone.

Residents in the area say they are frustrated and angered by this eyesore which has been ongoing for several months now. As for the shopkeepers on this stretch of The Danforth, the presence of junkies (and those drug dealers who cater to them) is making it all but impossible to eke out a living. Indeed, right next to the encampment is a furniture store. It looks as though it has been there for decades. But it won’t be there much longer: signs in the window advertise that the store is having a closing sale.

Meanwhile, the City of Toronto simply shrugs its shoulders. As for the Carney Liberals, the day before we visited The Danforth, the Prime Minister cut another $100 million cheque for Palestine, making the total $600 million. All of which makes us wonder: whoever coined the phrase “crime does not pay”? And whatever happened to the idea of “charity begins at home”?