A Vigil of Remembrance and a Call to Action

Photo by Karen Navarro

On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the local community gathered to remember men and women who passed away while experiencing homelessness.  The commemoration began with a short ceremony at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, followed by a procession to First United Methodist Church, where a memorial vigil was held.

"Be it of accidents, natural causes, homicide, suicide or poor heath conditions, at least 53 people without homes died in Albuquerque during 2010, as of mid-December. The number announced last year was 66, 48 the year before" wrote Lloyd Jojola in The Albuquerque Journal.

 "And as is done around this time each year, advocates for the homeless, community members and others mourned those lives lost and hoped to raise awareness about homelessness."

Even though the focus of the memorial is on remembrance, Lisa Huval of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness says this is also a call to action.

"Every night in Albuquerque, at least 3,200 men, women and children will be without homes, but we know how to end homelessness. The Memorial Vigil is a time to honor those who have passed away during the year, but it is also a call to action to our community to invest in the housing and services that people need to exit homelessness."

Read full article in Albuquerque Journal.