A woman who was living at a homeless encampment set up in a private resident’s yard died Sunday morning from what the camp organizer believes was carbon monoxide poisoning she got after trying to keep her tent warm.
Darin Mann, who owns the Fairpark neighborhood property where The Village Camp is located, identified the woman as “Brandy,” and said in a news release that her death was a result of the city’s “inaction” on providing resources to people experiencing homelessness.
He said, “It is also clear we don’t have the resources to handle this problem on a private residence. It is time we create and implement a lasting solution.”
He advocated building a tiny home community in Brandy’s memory.
Salt Lake City police Lt. Steve Wooldridge confirmed a 45-year-old woman died at the camp Sunday morning.
Police were called there just after 6 a.m. Sunday because a man was having some kind of medical issues, and when they arrived they noticed others needing medical attention.
The woman was the only person who died.
Wooldridge said he didn’t know of any other deaths at this camp but said, “These things happen from time to time all over the camps.”
He encouraged those working with people experiencing homelessness to direct the unsheltered to established, government-funded resources.
Brandy’s death comes as activists and government officials have been sparring over the best ways to help Salt Lake City’s population of people experiencing homelessness, with many activist groups taking the work on themselves by giving out meals and and organizing organized camps.
City officials dispersed residents and infrastructure at another encampment, Camp Last Hope, late last week. Set up beneath an overpass, it was one of the largest and most organized encampments Salt Lake City has ever seen.
During a public comment period at the Salt Lake City Council’s formal meeting last Tuesday, some Salt Lake City residents criticized the decision to conduct the camp sweep, because of forecasts of below freezing temperatures snowstorms last week and asked the city to give people experiencing homelessness more time.
Editor’s note • Anyone seeking shelter is encouraged to call the coordinated entry intake line at 801-990-9999.
