Somerset ward councillor Ariel Troster says she’s “devastated” after a man sleeping in the streets of downtown Ottawa was found “frozen to death” on Monday.
Ottawa police say they received a call for a person in medical distress near Elgin Street and Cooper Street at approximately 4:30 a.m.
Paramedics say they found an adult male in his 40’s in cardiac arrest. He was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition, paramedics say.
Police confirmed he later died in hospital.
In a post on social media, Troster said the man died from being out in the freezing cold. Overnight temperatures on Monday hit a low of -17 C with a wind chill of -24.
“I was devastated to find out that a man was found frozen to death yesterday morning on Elgin Street. This is the exact scenario that the city has been working hard to prevent, but this failure is on all of us,” she said.
“Ending homelessness is our most urgent crisis. I will continue to push the city and all levels of govt to do better. The answer is HOUSING, with supports when needed. Period.”
Troster’s office declined a CTV News request for an interview and would not provide further details.
Police would not confirm the man’s cause of death. The death is not being considered suspicious.
The man’s family has been notified, police said.