DETROIT — The tragic deaths of two young children, who are believed to have succumbed to the freezing temperatures while in a van parked outside a casino in Detroit, have prompted a review of the city’s response to homelessness. Authorities revealed on Tuesday that the children had been living in the van with their family for several months, frequently changing locations in search of safety and warmth.

The children’s mother reached out to City Hall for housing assistance on November 25, but Mayor Mike Duggan noted that no effective solution was found at that time. “There was no resolution to their situation, which has left a lot of questions,” he said during a press conference the day after the heartbreaking incident. Duggan emphasized that this situation did not trigger an outreach response from city workers. “As far as we have learned thus far, the family did not contact us again for help,” he stated.

Duggan further pointed out that the city’s homeless services failed to follow up with the family to check on their situation after their initial contact. “We did not proactively reach out to the family to ask if their needs had changed or if they found a resolution,” he added. This tragedy followed the deaths of a 9-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl from cold exposure inside the van parked in a casino’s garage, where three other siblings and their mother were also staying.

Describing the day as particularly grim for the city, Duggan noted the availability of family shelter beds located just a few miles from the location of the tragic event. After the incident, he instructed his staff to conduct a thorough review of the family’s interactions with the city’s social services over the past few months to better understand what went wrong.

Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison provided limited details during the news conference but confirmed that the family had been living in their vehicle for approximately two to three months, often choosing to park in casino areas due to perceived safety and restroom access. Unfortunately, the van had stopped functioning during the night and was unable to provide any heat when the temperatures plummeted.

Mayor Duggan emphasized that Detroit has a total of 1,400 beds designated for individuals seeking shelter, along with a helpline available for emergencies. “For anyone facing a crisis, the quickest method is to visit a nearby police precinct,” he advised. “They will assist in the process to connect you with available shelter services.”