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Community Holds Vigil For Homeless Men Who Died In The Cold In South Bend

Annacaroline Caruso/ WVPE News

South Bend residents packed inside the County-City building Sunday night for a vigil for a local homeless man who died on Jan 18th.

They used the vigil to send a bigger message to the city.
 
The crowd joined in singing 'Amazing Grace' to remember Darrell Bradberry.

He’s the second homeless man to die of the cold in South Bend in less than a month.
 

Gary Bradberry said he hopes change comes from the death of his brother.

“He did all the things that you do in life. You have fun, you raise hell. Little by little alcohol creeps in, drugs creep in, and the next thing you know you end up on the street frozen to death in South Bend, Indiana.”

Credit Annacaroline Caruso/ WVPE News
The community gathered for a vigil for a local homeless man who died of the cold in South Bend, Indiana.

People at the vigil called on city officials to find better ways to help the homeless.

They suggested more mental health resources, a 24 hour homeless shelter, and better trained shelter workers.

Mayor James Mueller said it’s a bit more complicated.

“There is no easy solution unfortunately but it’s something critical that we get right because we can’t have another incident like this.”

Mueller said he would like to add more permanent supportive housing in South Bend and explore possibilities for a 24-hour shelter.

Contact Annacaroline at acaruso@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @AnnacarolineC16

If you appreciate this kind of journalism on your local NPR station, please support it by donating at:  https://wvpe.thankyou4caring.org/ 

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