From the Harford County Health Department:
The local observance of National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day will be held this year on Monday, December 21st from 12:00 to 1:00pm. The event will take place outside the Bel Air Armory in the park located at 41 N. Main Street in Bel Air.
In remembrance of those who have died too early as a result of their homelessness, communities across the nation have observed National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on the longest night of the year for the past three decades. People experiencing homelessness are three to four times more likely to die prematurely than their sheltered counterparts, according to a study released by National Health Care for the Homeless Council, wherein lower temperatures, higher housing and energy costs, and insufficient shelter resources contribute to the problem.
“While seeking economic solutions for our country, we cannot forget our most vulnerable citizens”, says Harford County Health Officer, Ms. Susan Kelly. ”This observance serves to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to serve as a call to action to end homelessness both locally and nationwide.”
Initiated by Harford County’s Health Care for the Homeless Project (HCH) in 2007, this will be the ninth year that Harford County is participating in the national recognition of Homeless Persons Memorial Day.
Again this year, the Hope in Action Ministry of Central Christian Church joins Health Care for the Homeless at the Health Department in participating and promoting this year’s event. All community members, service providers, and consumers are welcomed and encouraged to attend this important gathering.
Members of the general public who are aware of individuals who passed away this year without a secure place to stay, or those interested in additional information on Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day or homeless resources, should please contact Kristle Fullerton, LCSW-C at the Harford County Health Department at 410-638-3060 by December 17th.
“At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge, … it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”
“Are there no prisons?”
“Plenty of prisons…”
“And the Union workhouses.” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”
“Both very busy, sir…”
“Those who are badly off must go there.”
“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”
“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Sad how nothing changes …
According to the CDC and other sources a full 80% of the homeless are described w alcohol or drug use issues and 35% of the homeless have serious and chronic mental illness – some concurrent w both. If you pop bad heroin while living in the street and your heart stops it’s not the street, it’s the heroin. Providing food and housing without even discussing the primary root cause of homelessness is like talking about obesity as if it’s a problem with clothes being made too small.