Winnipeg’s homeless community, allies reeling after person dies in homeless encampment fire – CBC

‘There was an explosion there simply because they’re trying to keep warm in wintertime’

Feb 17, 2021

Advocates, outreach workers and a provincial politician are calling for more permanent solutions to homelessness in Winnipeg, after someone living in a homeless encampment died in a fire Tuesday morning.

“It’s very unfortunate to see this happen,” said Serge Uwimana, who worked with people living at the encampment near Higgins Avenue as a member of the outreach team at Resource Assistance for Youth Inc., a Winnipeg non-profit working with street-entrenched and homeless youth.

“People can’t stay in the cold when it’s -40. You’re going to have a fire because you want to stay warm, and things are going to happen,” said Uwimana.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-homeless-fatal-fire-1.5916548