It appears to have improved here over the past several years.
Homelessness remains mostly invisible in St. John’s with most people experiencing it couchsurfing, living out of vehicles, or staying at shelters. You might run into someone sleeping rough in the core maybe once or twice per year.
From the outside looking in, the worst of the opioid crisis appears to have passed. Still lots of people with prescriptions for methadone or whatever it is they use. Lots of sharps disposal boxes, discarded needles, naloxone kits, etc. still littering sidewalks and parks. The legalization of cannabis has completely severed any interaction between recreational drug users and the illegal drug trade. Most of the remaining illegal things (cocaine, for example), recreational users avoid due to fears of fentanyl. So the addicted community is now more invisible, which is bad, but also comes into contact less with the recreational users.
Mental health services have also improved, though less so for the most vulnerable. It’s gotten far easier here, though, for a working class person with a mental health issue to seek our therapy/support, etc.
It’s mostly safe here, for all involved. Deaths are relatively rare compared to similar-sized cities elsewhere. The other day there was a naked man from the drug den across the street just sitting out on the front step having a beer, walking up and down the street in front of neighbours and their kids
One gave him shit, he crawled back in through the window of the drug den. Someone called the police (I don’t bother), and they came and knocked and gave up. No one hurt, or arrested. A week or so ago the ambulance took someone out of there on a stretcher but they were conscious (though clearly high). That’s kind of how it tends to go here. Not great but not too bad.