Tonight marks the longest night of the year. Advocates chose this night to remember the homeless who have died in 2012. The National Homeless Person’s Memorial happens in more than 150 cities, including Boise.
Jayne Sorrels is the Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services. “We gather together as a community and recognize and honor, remember those who have died in the last year who were homeless, formerly homeless and those who were homeless advocates.”
Sorrels says ten homeless people died this year in Boise, and four homeless advocates also passed away. “For some of these people who have passed, this is the only time that they are remembered in a memorial service.”
Numbers are hard to pin down, but every January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development does a one night count of the homeless. Nationally, this year, more than 633,000 reported having nowhere to stay the night. Almost 2,000 of those were in Idaho. That’s down from the 2,200 people counted in 2011.
Tonight's Homeless Person's Memorial Day Vigil starts at 7:00 p.m. at Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise. The service is open to the public and will be followed by a gathering with food at the Corpus Christi Day Shelter.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio