Investigators say they don’t suspect foul play within the deaths of two folks at a Brantford encampment.
The pair, who haven’t been recognized, have been discovered on Dec. 26 close to the intersection of Clarence Avenue and Greenwich Avenue.
Police mentioned a coroner’s investigation is underway to find out their explanation for demise.
Within the meantime, they’re asking all residents to prioritize protected drug use.
Response to the deaths
Tim Philp, the chief director of Rosewood Home, Brantford’s largest homeless shelter, mentioned he wasn’t shocked by the warning from police.
“They basically gave a public service announcement,” he defined. “If you’re going to use drugs, you should use them safely and contact addictions facilities if you want to get away from it.”
The deaths have additionally sparked renewed considerations in regards to the metropolis’s response to the homelessness disaster and concrete encampments.
“A lot of people have been sort of chased out of the more visible locations here in Brantford,” mentioned Philp. “They go down to the river, and when they’re out of sight, they’re out of mind and everybody leaves them alone.”
Mayor Kevin Davis admits outreach efforts will be difficult.
“Although the city’s dedicated homelessness response team works to help individuals find alternative shelter, we may not always be aware of every encampment in the city,” he mentioned in a media launch.
That staff, which incorporates outreach staff, police and emergency providers, goals to attach these residing in encampments with native assets and shelter areas.
Davis additionally encourages residents to report any new encampments that pop up.
“The city has made a tremendous effort reach out to these people and let them know that there are shelter beds available, that there is help for them,” mentioned Philp. “Unfortunately, they’re not always successful in getting people to use it.”
SOAR Neighborhood Companies, a not-for-profit homelessness assist centre, additionally mentioned they have been saddened by the deaths.
“We are working with our partners to support vulnerable individuals and hope we can avoid further loss of life,” they defined in a media launch. “We encourage anyone who is unhoused to access emergency shelter intake services.”
“The provincial government has come up with some money that is to try and reduce the encampments,” mentioned Philp. “This isn’t just a Brantford problem. It’s a problem everywhere. Every major city has a problem with encampments.”
