DETROIT — In response to a recent tragedy where two children died in freezing conditions while living in a van, Detroit city officials have announced measures to better handle homelessness and prevent similar occurrences. Mayor Mike Duggan emphasized the urgency of the situation in a press conference on Thursday, saying, “This cannot ever happen again.”
The incident involves the deaths of Darnell Currie Jr., 9, and his sister A’millah Currie, 2, who were part of a group of seven — five children and two adults — seeking refuge in a casino parking garage on February 10. They died from exposure to the cold after the van’s heating system failed in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-6.6 degrees Celsius).
Prior to this, the children’s mother had communicated with the city on November 25 about the impending expiration of their temporary housing, but the outreach was not followed up, and the situation escalated without further calls. Unfortunately, outreach teams at that time were not checking vehicles for anyone in need of shelter, a gap that has become tragically apparent.
In response, Duggan has mandated that city outreach workers personally visit families with children who report an imminent risk of losing their housing, to prevent such tragedies. “You cannot, when you’re just dealing with phone calls, understand how close somebody is to being out,” he explained.
Additionally, police officers are to monitor for individuals living in vehicles. An emergency housing hotline will also operate around the clock to offer immediate assistance. This initiative is part of a broader effort to review and improve the city’s support services for those facing housing instability.
Mayor Duggan also shared his personal condolences with the family, having met with the children’s mother, Tateona Williams, before the funeral. He expressed the shared grief felt by the entire community, stating, “It was a very emotional and difficult meeting. … I told them the entire city shared their pain.”
