Perishing in the Cold

 

                                Location of the death of a man in Belleville, adjacent to Bridge St. Church

A few days ago a body was discovered in downtown Belleville, the town/city of 50,000 residents where we live. While we reside several kilometres away from the grim discovery I know the location precisely. It is immediately adjacent to Bridge St, United Church, the congregation I was serving at the time of my retirement. There are several garages which were part of the now-demolished Quinte Hotel against a Bridge St. retaining wall, and the body of this person was close to one of them.

Since then, authorities have ascertained that the man in his late fifties has been brought to Belleville by Napanee police so that he could spend the night in the nearby warming centre. He chose to stay outside as those without shelter often do. Homeless people often fear confrontation in cramped quarters, or are concerned about theft, and in the last year they are attempting to avoid COVID infection. Mental health issues are often a factor. 

There is now a homeless shelter in Belleville called Grace Inn, which receives city support, and there is the warming centre which is open on the coldest nights. Bridge St has provided meals to those in need every day for a year now, and feeds close to a thousand people a week. This is an important ministry, one for which Ruth, my wife, volunteers. It is so sad that a person perished within metres of where this food is distributed each day, and very near what we often describe as the sanctuary, the worship space of the church building.

Who is to blame for this death? No one really, although as the Belleville mayor Mitch Panciuk expressed condolences he also spoke of the need for more funding for those who experience precarious housing. Rather than apportioning blame we can ask what we can do better within different levels of government, and as faith communities. 

A death such as this one is often seen as a big city reality, but it has come close to home. God be with those who mourn this loss.

                                                          Bridge St Church on a wintry night