Winnipeg homeless agencies on high alert after 2 homicides

Winnipeggers who work with the city's homeless are boosting safety measures in light of two homicides that happened downtown this past weekend.

The bodies of Donald Collins, 65, and Stony Stanley Bushie, 48, were found in alleys behind 329 Hargrave St. and 333 Portage Ave., respectively, on Saturday.

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Police have said one of the men was homeless, while the other was vulnerable and spent a lot of time on the streets. Investigators believe they were likely killed by the same person.

Described by police as "brutal killings," the homicides have prompted police to warnthe city's homeless people to be cautious.

"This is a family, and it's a very large family, and people forget about that, right?" said Mark Stewart, the residential coordinator with the Salvation Army Booth Centre.

"It's devastating."

Stewart said shelter staff are keeping closer tabs on their clients.

"We're telling people that if they are going out that they can tell the front desk so we can monitor whether or not they're coming back," he said.

"If they're not back within, you know, a 12-hour period, [and] we don't know where they are, then we'd probably call the police and let them know that we're having trouble locating somebody."

The Salvation Army is also installing brighter LED lights around the building to help people feel more safe in the area, Stewart said.

'Safety is first and foremost'

Outreach staff at another centre, the Main Street Project, are also talking to clients to make sure they're not walking alone.

Program manager Cory Tanguay said staff usually speak with their clients about safety everyday, but the issue has become more urgent in light of the latest incidents.

"Making sure, you know, they're aware of their surroundings, aware of where they are, make sure they are going out in doubles and making sure that their safety is first and foremost," he said.

Police removed a number of dumpsters from behind Siloam Mission, one of the city's homeless shelters, as part of the investigation into the men's deaths on Monday. Investigators have not said what they were looking for.

"As this vulnerable population is a tight-knit community, Siloam Mission will keep our community informed and as always our staff and volunteers are available to any of our guests with concerns," the agency said in a news release Monday afternoon.

Melvin Mokelkie, a homeless man who uses Siloam's services, said most people are heeding the police warning and being extra vigilant.

"Well, people just stay indoors, you know? [Or] now they're going in twos and threes and such and staying away from the alleys and things like that."

Youth particularly vulnerable

Young people on the streets are particularly vulnerable because they don't have a lot of life experience, says Kelly Holmes, executive director of Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY).

Holmes said when youth are left unattended and without support resources to address mental health or addictions issues, "they are at such a level of vulnerability that they are subject to any kind of exploitation, murder obviously being the worst."

RAY is hosting a discussion on youth homelessness on Tuesday at the University of Winnipeg. That same day, a four-day national conference on homelessness will begin at the Radisson Hotel.

Holmes said the discussion could not come at a better time.

"Street life isn't safe. It's not a surprise to any of us who work in the homeless sector," she said.

"This is the worst possible obviously case scenario of what could happen. It's unfortunate, but it's not a huge shock."