DETROIT — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is calling for a review of city services for homelessness and ways to make them more accessible to those who need them after two children died of hypothermia in a van in a casino parking structure on Monday night.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said a preliminary investigation shows a mother and her five kids had been living in a van for two to three months when she allegedly parked in the Hollywood Casino parking garage in Greektown around 1 a.m. At some point, her van ran out of gas or had a mechanical failure, Bettison said.

Duggan said what made Monday's tragedy even worse was that there was shelter space available for families that evening.

"I want to make sure that the people who need it the most know that we are there for them," said Duggan.

Bettison said a preliminary investigation suggests the children, two and nine, died of hypothermia. The mother noticed one of her children, a nine-year-old, wasn't breathing around noon on Monday and called a friend, who drove the child to Children's Hospital. A two-year-old also was later to be found not breathing. Both were later pronounced dead.

Bettison said the city finally received a 911 call from the mom around 12:12 p.m. Monday.

"We have got to do a better job of educating people that the service is there," said Duggan.

Duggan said he has learned the family had reached out to the city's homelessness department more than once, notably on Nov. 25. The family told the city they had been living with another family, but would not be able to any longer, Duggan said. But in that November conversation, he said, the family was not given a resolution.

City officials on Tuesday urged those facing homelessness to seek services, but Duggan acknowledged that some don't always seek help. He said he wants to create a policy that would require outreach workers to connect with those facing homelessness who have children and on-site visits.

Bettison said no one is in police custody but the mother and a grandmother have been questioned by police. He said the investigation is ongoing and the department will present its findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, but wouldn't confirm a criminal investigation is being pursued.

Bettison also said that the mother and children would sometimes use the casino restrooms and had parked in other casino parking lots in the city.

"They moved around from various casino parking lots," said Bettison.

Three other children who were also in the van were evaluated at the hospital and are now staying with relatives, Bettison said.

Terra Linzner, Detroit's homelessness solutions coordinator, called the deaths "heartbreaking" on Monday evening and emphasized the resources in place for those who may be without shelter. She said the Detroit Housing Resource HelpLine at (866) 313-2520 operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

And Duggan on Tuesday urged those who need help to go to a police station if they need help after the hotline's hours.

"If you find yourself sleeping outside and need help outside of the HelpLine business hours, please go to the closest police precinct where tey can connect them with an Outreach team for help with overnight services," Linzner said in a statement.

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