Photo by Krzysztof Maksimiuk on unsplash.com

The Poverello House will host its annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Thursday night, honoring and remembering the lives of members of the community suffering from homelessness.

This is the second time the Poverello House has hosted the event, which takes place annually on Dec. 21 — the Winter Solstice — which marks the first day of winter and longest night of the year.

Since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless has sponsored such events to bring attention and remembrance to those who have died without a permanent place to call home.

“We believe that every single life matters and has value and worth,” said Zack Darrah, CEO of the Poverello House. “For many of the folks that are lost to the streets of our community, not everyone feels that.”

This year, around 70 people will be memorialized at the event. An estimated 100 people suffering from homelessness died on the streets of Fresno this year, Darrah said. Over the years similar events memorializing Fresno’s homeless population have taken place.

 

Thousands of people across the country will be memorialized as part of the event, which will include prayers, candlelight memorials, moments of silence and eulogies read for those who died this year.

“Without sufficient housing and services, people will continue to die on the streets,” said Lisa Glow, CEO at Central Arizona Shelter Services in a story published Wednesday by the Associated Press. Glow’s shelter operates a 600-bed facility in Phoenix, Arizona’s largest emergency shelter.

Nationwide, homelessness is continuing to rise, with estimates of more than 650,000 individuals suffering from homelessness across the country — a number that has risen by 12% since the Department of Housing and Urban Development began reporting statistics in 2007.

Many individuals suffering from homelessness lack the ability to treat various medical conditions due to lack of safe storage access, like refrigeration for insulin.

Fresno’s memorial will take place Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Poverello House, located at 412 F Street in Fresno. The event is free to attend and light refreshments will be served.

“This event is about remembering and celebrating every person’s life in the community, whether they’re on the streets or not,” Darrah said.