On Dec. 21, homeless advocates and community leaders gathered to acknowledge the deaths of people who experienced homelessness in El Paso County.
The event, organized by Mesa House and Ithaka Housing, is a longstanding tradition of paying tribute to people who have perished prematurely because of homelessness, and operates in tandem with similar services held nationwide on the evening of winter solstice — the longest night of the year.
As the 94 names were read, attendees huddled together in the evening chill, candlelight illuminating tear-streaked faces. After each name, attendees repeat “we remember.”
“We, as citizens and as a nation, have a lot of work to do to bring these numbers down. My wish is that everyone cared about the fates of our unhoused neighbors as much as the people here tonight do,” said Sallie Knox Hall, a Westside CARES volunteer and Manitou resident.
The Longest Night service started in 1993 after a columbarium wall was built at one of the properties the Bijou Community owns. The columbarium, and the services, originated with Steve Handen, who founded the city’s first soup kitchen and saw the need for the need for people who die without a community to be remembered.
When we unify we solve problems. – Mary Lynn Sheetz
Handen died in 2021, leaving the Bijou Community and his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Lynn Sheetz, to carry forth his legacy.
The weather for the Longest Night is often frigid; Thursday’s temperature hovered around 40 degrees.
“Sometimes, people wish us good weather for the event,” Sheetz said. “We don’t want good weather, because the brutality of the elements helps us to imagine what it might be like, what people experiencing homelessness are up against.”
This year’s service was the 30th Sheetz has organized, and the third she’s organized without her husband.
“He’s so present that there’s no such thing as him not being at the service. If anything, all his wisdom and gifts are distilled now, and stronger than they ever were,” she said.
This also marked the second service at Evergreen Cemetery after the memorial wall was relocated in 2022.
“There was so much uncertainty when the property that held the columbarium was sold,” Sheetz said. “But so many people from so many different parts of the community came together to find a permanent resting place for those whose lives are remembered at the wall.”
“The truth is,” Sheetz reflected, “when we unify, we solve problems.”
Unity was on the minds of the Longest Night attendees.
“I was touched by the turnout to honor those whom many in our culture look down upon, look past or choose to just not even look at,” said Danny Davis, executive pastor of Story Church.
“Every life matters. Every person’s story matters. I know this event helps hurting hearts by honoring those who have passed on and who mattered and made a difference.
“May we all learn to recognize the value of all people and strive to be difference makers.”
The community members lost to the streets in 2023 are:Joseph Abeyta
Luther Angle
Aaron Balfour
Christopher Baltz
Michael Bauer
Ralph Bauer
Tracy Beardsley
Joanne Beltz
Christopher Bracken
Carryn Caddell
Lindsey Cameron
Betti Jo Chaffin
Amber Chambers
Willie Chapman
Alesha Chavez
Sadie Chinery
Samuel Coen
Crystal Cole
Thomas Collins
Jason Dalton
Keith Darmon
Jospeh Delero
Suzan Delostrico
Burton Dezendorf
David Diaz
Shannon Dickman
Terrance Duncan
Angelo Elledge
Matthew Flowers
Michael Fontes
James Fowler
Paul Garcia
Robert Giles
Jessica Gilmore
Mark Godoy
Kelly Golden
Marc Goldstritch
Zion Gonzales
Jason Gonzales
David Guile
Niles Harmon
Sterling Harris
Jeffrey Henderson
Millar Hersey
Adam Hooper
Michael Hopkins
Patrick Hunt
Caleb Jackson
Gerald Jordan
David Karels
Joshua Keterson
Brian Kofroth
Timothy Leighton
Joshua Lindsey
Jean Linville
Alex Marquez
Tim Matrious
Jane McNally
Francisco Mendez
Marschelle Moss
Douglas Murphy
Jeremy Nelson
Christopher Nemeth
Carl Pate
James Pinch
Willie Pitcher
Robert Poling
Ivanna Read
Louis Recht
Theodore Reed
Sydney Richardson
Wayne Rinehart
Jonahan Roberson
Michael Rogers
Epifanio Rosas
Gabby Rose
Albin Ruiz
Jesse Schielle
Jayce Seitz
Matthew Sellers
Sean Skelton
Edgar Smith
Michael Smith
Jarrod Stanley
Christina Thompson
Samuel Valdez
Christopher Vargas
Robin Vincent
Carmen Washington
Church Watkins
Jason West
Tawnya Wever
Shane Wilcox
Dale Wilmore