It was so epidemic in downtown Toronto for a period there. I had to resort to saying jeeze I was just going to ask you for a little change myself. The beggars were as thick as fleas so for all I know they really thought I was one with my responce.

You were hit several times when walking a block. For whatever reason it has since moderated substantially. What really disturbed me was seeing people literally living on the streets as well.

That does not occur where I live as it is simply illegal to do so. Seems to work. Another factor is we do not seem to have members of the local population that are in various states of mental disorders. They possibly moved to the big cities. Or tend to live near mental instututions. Or where other treatment centers are located.

I also suspect such activity would reflect on a beggars family. So it would be dealt with if attempted. All families know someone in all the other families locally. A population townwise and rural of perhaps thirty thousand with almost no imigation or transients whatsoever. Versus the melting pot I grew up in. Every trip back to Toronto makes me wonder why people choose to remain there.