Your interpretation is not charitable.

Are these people in need of help? Yes.

Should they be out in the street while getting said help? No.

Does their presence in the street present a problem? Yes.

Here's just one example: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/13/550674476...

I have to be physically threatened to be stabbed by / watch them threaten to shoot other people / watch them destroy property / watch them break down their stolen bikes.

Ironically, you're the one being judgemental here.

I agree they need help, but this goes way beyond the deep sadness of seeing really sick people and wishing you could help them.

It's the same problem. Sick people should not be laying in the streets or running around attacking people, they should be in places where they are getting help. The fact that it is not happening is the problem, and it's not a problem of "privilege" or anything like that - it's the problem of city management, because that's why city management exists in the first place - to make things like that not happen.

>> But nobody felt safe even acknowledging the problem ("How dare you admit that a half-dressed drug-addict screaming sexual profanities at the woman in front of you makes you uncomfortable! Privilege much?").

> This is an insanely privileged thing to say though.

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