Two Homeless Children Freeze to Death in Detroit Van

In a heartbreaking incident in Detroit, two homeless children tragically froze to death while sleeping in a van with their family. The devastating event has ignited urgent discussions about homelessness and the support services available to vulnerable families in the area.

2 homeless children freeze to death

The two children, a 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, lost their lives while the family sought refuge in their van parked at Greektown Casino. The family, consisting of seven members including the two children, their siblings, mother, grandmother, and the grandmother's child, had been residing in the van.

Police reported that during the night, as temperatures plummeted into the low to mid-teens, the van encountered mechanical issues or possibly ran out of gas. In this dire situation, the children's mother reached out to a family friend for assistance. Tragically, by noon the following day, the mother discovered that the 9-year-old boy was not breathing. Despite efforts to take the children to the hospital, it was determined that both children had succumbed to hypothermia.

Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison emphasized the preventable nature of this tragedy, expressing deep sadness over the incident. Additionally, Mayor Mike Duggan revealed that the children's mother had reached out to the city's homeless response team multiple times, including in November, but no resolution was reached, and the family did not follow up subsequently.

Community Response and Support Services

The mayor acknowledged the availability of shelter beds just a few miles away from the incident location, prompting a reevaluation of the city's approach to supporting vulnerable families. In response to the growing need, the city's homeless services had increased shelter capacity from 900 to 1,300 beds, added drop-in beds, and ensured 24/7 availability of homeless outreach workers.