The Lee County Homeless Coalition holds the 17thannual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day ceremony Saturday, Dec. 21 to commemorate the lives of homeless individuals who died this year living in shelters or on the streets of Lee County this year.
The names of the 16 known homeless individuals who lost their lives this year will be read at the candle light vigil. The date of the event itself is symbolic.
“It’s the first day of winter. It’s the longest night of the year and it’s typically a cold night,” said Lee County Homeless Coalition Executive Director Janet Bartos.
“This date is chosen to remind us of the conditions those who are homeless must endure,” she said. “These people that we’re paying tribute to, these individuals took their last breath without adequate shelter to call their own and often times they were along. Lives should just not end in such a fashion and without any acknowledgement.”
The Coalition’s 2013 homeless census estimates about 3,000 homeless people reside in Lee County. The organization’s next homeless count takes place Jan. 31st.
The Coalition is also planning to serve about 400 people at its Homeless Service Day and Veteran Stand Down Feb. 1st at City of Palms Stadium.
Bartos expects about 100 people to show up for the Saturday vigil which is open to the public. The approximately half hour ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. on the steps of the old Lee County Courthouse in downtown Fort Myers.
