WINNIPEG — They do what they can to stay safe, but now Winnipeg’s most vulnerable are worried it’s not enough.
“It’s scary,” says Christine Beck, who currently has a room at the Salvation Army. “It’s really sad somebody is targeting people who are unfortunate to begin with.”
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On Sunday Winnipeg Police said the same killer is responsible for two separate homicides that occurred downtown Saturday, and that the person may be targeting the homeless or the vulnerable.
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Police found a man in his late 60’s in an alley near 329 Hargrave Street at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday.
Then at 6:30 p.m. Saturday a security guard reportedly found a man in his late 40’s behind 333 Portage Ave.
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Beck says she rarely goes out at night and if she does, always makes sure she has a ride back to the shelter.
On Monday she was giving others similar advice as she stood outside Salvation Army, handing out copies of the most recent news stories on the murders to those who frequent the building.
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The Salvation Army says its also greeting people at the doors.
“We are letting people know if they don’t have a place to stay, that we will keep you safe as best we can, ” says the Salvation Army’s residential coordinator, Mark Stewart.
At Siloam Mission the advisory police issued Sunday has been posted on its walls. It asks those who are homeless or frequent the streets to use caution, avoid secluded areas and where possible, walk with others.
“To be targeted is not unusual, and they endure a lot of abuse of different kinds. But this is extreme and it’s very disturbing,” says Siloam Mission manager of operations Dan Maxson.
He also wonders if it could have been prevented.
Another shelter, Main Street Project, used to have a van that would patrol back alleys and other streets at night, encouraging the homeless to seek shelter. Its funding, about $75,000 in federal dollars, was pulled in 2011.
“We can’t prevent everything,” says Main Street Project executive director Lisa Goss. “But if we have the ability to go out and offer someone a different choice, a safe place to sleep with hot oatmeal in the morning, most are going to take it.”
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