A fatal fire at a homeless encampment in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has prompted calls for improved housing options. Advocates highlight the dangers faced by individuals living in encampments, particularly during cold weather, and emphasize the need for more permanent and supportive housing.
Firefighters responded to a tent fire at the encampment at Kam River Park in the city's south core around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said. One person died and two others were injured. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said the cause of the fire is under investigation.After a fatal fire at a homeless encampment in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, advocates are calling for better housing options.
"When people are desperate, they'll find a way to stay safe and to stay warm. And that's what we're currently up against right now," she said.Gauvin said she's aware of ten people who have died in encampments in the city since May 2024. Her team is currently tracking about 31 people who are living in encampments in Thunder Bay. She'd like to eventually get them into more permanent housing, but lack of resources makes it hard find supportive housing.
Northern Ontario is a particularly challenging place to be unhoused, said Lindsay Martin, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of northwestern Ontario. The region is more isolated, and temperatures can go as low as -30 degrees or colder.Northern Ontario also gets less funding than other places in the province, said Martin.
HOMELESSNESS HOUSING FIRE THUNDER BAY SOCIAL SERVICES
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