October 30, 2017
The Toronto Star
David Rider
Homeless death toll hits 70 and rattles public health committee members
At least 70 homeless Torontonians have died so far this year, most never reaching age 50, according to new figures that startled city hall decision-makers.
“Seventy deaths in a city as wealthy as ours is an absolute failure on the part of everyone,” including politicians, Councillor Joe Cressy told fellow members of the city’s public health committee Monday after a presentation on the year-to-date statistics.
“I just don’t think we can claim to be the world’s most liveable city as 70 people die on our streets.”
Actually, 46 of them died indoors — usually at an inner-city hospital or homeless shelter — while four were recorded as dying outdoors and the place of death was not noted for 20 others in reports given to public health by various agencies.