Bethlehem Inn remembers lives lost to homelessness with vigils, reflecting on tragedy in the community
(Update: Adding video, comments from Bethlehem Inn staff, Redmond mayor)
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The community came together, on Saturday, at Bethlehem Inn in Redmond, to honor and remember the lives lost to homelessness, with a memorial vigil.
Homeless Persons' Memorial Day is aimed at raising awareness about homelessness and inspiring collective action to address it.
"We want to make certain that, we can not have as many names on the list," Gwenn Wysling, Bethlehem Inn's Executive Director said. "We've added another name as of yesterday, and that is tragic for that individual, but it's tragic for our community."
This year, there have been 32 lives lost.
Wysling said, "We have more people on this year's list than we did last year and the year before. It has been growing. Unfortunately."
The day brought together service providers, advocates, people with lived experience. As well as, policymakers, like Mayor Ed Fitch, who read the City of Redmond proclamation.
Fitch said, "We have a lot more work to do - to address that situation, but it's also, as, Pastor Rick indicated, there is a reason for hope because there are so many people dedicated to helping those who are in need."
Fitch believes in the coming year, there will be more work done to provide people a safe location, so they won't be on the street.
During the vigil, people told stories, followed by a ceremony and reflection -- taking a moment of silence to remember those who died homeless.
After the vigil, Kimmy and Patricia asked if Gwenn and I wanted to go out to 'Dirt World' to see a cross that bears all the friends they've lost.
Kimmy said, "This is where we represent, all the friends that we've lost. There's so many of them that we have to put this new cross up. Today, I'm putting four more people within the last two weeks. So we already put Wolf, we did already put Wolf. So. Too many. Too fast. That's all I got to say about that."
The community was also invited to honor lives lost to homelessness at a memorial vigil in Drake Park.
