"How can he have a good life? This is a young fellow, very young," says the photographer, about the subject of his photo. "Every time I walked by this corner he was there, especially in winter. It was so miserable, the hot air and the steam coming out, and he had to rely on it to get warm."

The photographer, 77, immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong and has been living in downtown Toronto since 1968. "I remember when I first came to Toronto – I had a small room and a roof over my head," he says. "Now, one friend told me he had to spend 70% of his monthly income to pay the rent. How can he live on the rest for the whole month?"

Every time I see people sleeping on the street, I get so upset. All over the city. Some people are deteriorating every month. It is heartbreaking, especially in winter. It is my dream to see no one living on the street."