Years ago Rodney Street and Catharine Streets were fairly dangerous (I pulled over there for a bit to look at a map - that's how long ago it was, a paper map - and some people came and started rocking my car), but the area has changed since then. Socioeconomically it's still pretty working class, but not a dangerous area.

Best piece of advice: take the "hill" in Bell Hill seriously. Trying to drive up Belmont Street from downtown is a nightmare in the winter. Even buses get stuck sometimes.