Some tragedies are simply accidents. Some are the result of a single decision; others have been made nearly inevitable by many years of choices and circumstances.
Regardless of the history, the death of a woman in the park Sunday night or Monday morning must be considered a tragedy.
No one wants to see that tragedy repeated. Private citizens, nonprofit agencies and governmental entities have made a concerted effort to prevent exposure deaths. Individuals make their own choices, but the community has done a good job of providing positive options for them. The Bridge Emergency Shelter is a tremendous resource.
The other role that community members can, and should, take on, is to keep their eyes and ears open for those who might need to be steered to the shelter.
Even though this winter has been dry and relatively warm, single-digit nighttime temperatures endanger anyone sleeping outdoors, particularly anyone whose thought processes may be impaired. Give them a better chance by alerting the police to the whereabouts of those who appear to be either bedding down for the night or unable to get to seek shelter on their own. Law-enforcement and shelter personnel cannot peer into every nook and under every shrub. A quick phone call from a passerby might save a life.
Please, if you have that opportunity, make the call.