On behalf of the family of Réal Leclair, affectionately known as #HomelessJoe, Street Nurse Anne Marie Batten and Retired Toronto Police Service Constable Scott Mills have started this fundraising campaign to assist Réal's family with funeral costs to honour the life of Réal.

Réal died from a heart attack while fetching drinking water from a river near his shack in south Etobicoke (Toronto) in August, 2023. He was 63yrs old.

Special thank you to Toronto Police Service 22 Division officers, especially Detective Richard Nimmo and his team, and Coroner Dr. Gupta for working tirelessly to thoroughly investigate and find next of kin for Réal after his body was found by a person riding their mountain bike in the area. After an autopsy, the coroner has determined that the cause of death was a heart attack. It is believed Réal died peacefully from natural causes, for which we are all grateful.

Detective Nimmo, Retired Constable Mills and Anne Marie Batten have all been in contact with Réal's family and they are supportive of this GoFundMe. They wish to stress that all of the money donated will be used for Réal's funeral expenses and any funds left over they wish donated to a homeless and mental health organization. The family will determine those organizations at a later date.

Réal lived with severe mental illness which left him homeless, despite many attempts by his family, friends, street outreach workers, police and the medical system to assist him. We all did what we could to bring him some joy. Constable Mills met Réal in 2010 during what could have been a fatal interaction between a homeless man and an armed police officer. They decided to go for a coffee together. This started a friendship that led to Street Nurse Anne Marie Batten assisting Réal to find an income and a home. These friendships lasted until his death. The last time Cst Mills spoke with Réal was in early August, helping Réal to sort out some banking issues and his storage locker.

There were many days where Réal was not well and he pushed his loving family and friends away from him. All we could do was wait for a good day and help when we could. His family would like everyone to know that they did everything they could to help Réal, and are very appreciative of the many people who helped Réal in so many ways through donations of money, food and simply company.

Many of you heard of Réal's "#HomelessJoe" story posted by Anne Marie and Scott on their social media channels. Anne Marie and Scott thank you for reading these stories and providing love, financial assistance and support to Réal. In fact, those stories posted resulted in his son reuiniting with his Dad, and in the end those stories resulted in the Toronto Police being able to successfully locate next of kin.

Réal was loved by your family and by many in this world. His family would appreciate people sharing Réal's story in the hope that it will help someone else out there who struggles with mental health. You are never alone. Réal was a survivor and always perservered through the worst of times. His family wishes others to know of his disease and the resilience that he fought it with, and wants anyone reading this to realize you are never alone.

Final funeral arrangements are yet to be determined. We will post those arrangements here when they are available.

Here is a link to a number of photos of Réal in an album compiled by Retired Constable Mills over the years. https://photos.app.goo.gl/FwiR91uNcu25GRiP9

RIP #HomelessJoe