The annual Homeless Individuals Memorial Day on Saturday in downtown Vancouver will honor those that died up to now 12 months.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Outsiders Inn, Council for the Homeless, and Vancouver’s Homeless Help and Sources Staff are organizing the occasion. It at all times falls on the primary day of winter and the longest evening of the 12 months. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. on the entrance steps of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1309 Franklin St. A music and spoken phrase efficiency begins at 5 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship will comply with the occasion contained in the church.
The ceremony honors those that have died who’re related to the homeless inhabitants. Audio system will learn their names aloud, and a bell will ring between every title, Pastor Linda Marousek stated. After the memorial, the church’s bell will ring 53 occasions for the 53 individuals who died this 12 months.
“This event is important to remember the fact that these folks exist and they have lives and people that care for them,” stated Jamie Spinelli, the town’s homeless response supervisor.
IF YOU GO
What: Homeless Individuals Memorial Day
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Music and a spoken phrase efficiency will start at 5 p.m.
The place: St. Paul Lutheran Church’s entrance steps, 1309 Franklin St., Vancouver
Data: The ceremony will likely be livestreamed for folks unable to attend in particular person. To view the livestream, go to bit.ly/49GkE0x
Names can even be displayed on a poster, the place attendees can write messages or add the names of others they know who had been affected by homelessness and died in 2024.
This 12 months noticed a 10-person enhance from 2023. Thirty-five individuals who died final 12 months skilled unsheltered homelessness, 4 had been in everlasting housing, one was incarcerated and 7 had been in supportive housing, Spinelli stated.
The occasion is held exterior to remind folks of the realities of residing exterior.
“We very intentionally chose to have the event outside,” Spinelli stated. “Every year, we have a new person that comes along and says ‘Maybe we should do this inside the church. It’s cold outside.’ But, yes, that is the point. People who live outdoors have to live in these conditions, and we shouldn’t have the option of just going inside because it’s uncomfortable.”
Probably the most significant option to honor these lives is by working towards the day when everybody in Clark County has a secure and steady dwelling, organizers say.
“It’s not just a government problem. It’s not just one neighborhood’s problem. It’s all of us who have to come together,” Marousek stated.
This occasion is a chance for the neighborhood to return collectively and make collective progress towards ending homelessness, Spinelli stated.
“Homelessness existing is a choice — not a choice on the part of people who are experiencing homelessness but as a society. We all choose what exists here,” Spinelli stated. “We choose what we prioritize to fund. We choose what is important to address. The same is true for losing people outside. As a society, we have not emphasized enough that people living without shelter is unacceptable.”
The ceremony will likely be livestreamed for folks unable to attend in particular person. To view the livestream, go to https://bit.ly/49GkE0x.
“It’s extremely important to honor people whose lives were lost and create change in their memory. Being a caring community is not a small thing,” stated Iden Campbell, Council for the Homeless’ continuum of care supervisor.