Homeless Service Providers, Advocates, Faith Communities to Commemorate Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day – December 21, 2010

December 21, 2010                                          

Contact:  Adam Schneider – 410/215-8319

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BALTIMORE - On Tuesday, December 21, local homeless service providers, faith communities, and people experiencing homelessness will remember those 87 men and women who are known to have died in 2010 and who, in life, had lacked a regular place to stay.  The public is invited to a 5:30PM memorial service at the Baltimore Inner Harbor Amphitheater (between the two pavilions near the corner of Pratt and Calvert Streets).

The local commemoration is organized by SHARP, a coalition of City homeless service providers working to “Stop Homelessness And Reduce Poverty”, in partnership with Baltimore Congregations United.  WYPR’s Dan Rodericks will lead the service, which will feature Hip Hop for the Homeless as well as speakers and musicians who have experienced homelessness. 

“The holiday season provides a unique opportunity for affirmation and renewal regarding the commitment to end homelessness.  It is important that we keep the cause of making homelessness in Maryland a rare and brief occurrence a priority.” said Governor O’Malley in a proclamation commemorating December 21 Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day in Maryland.

“Many of these deaths are entirely preventable,” said Jeff Singer, President & CEO of Health Care for the Homeless, Inc., who will join others to discuss the significance of the day from 5:00PM to 6:00PM on WEAA’s Marc Steiner Show.  “The best way to honor those who died is to make comprehensive health care, affordable housing, and living wages our top priorities. Let us work together to build a future where there is no need to hold memorial services for people who die without housing – a future without homelessness.”  

For over two decades, communities have observed National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or about December 21 – the first day of winter and the longest night of the year.  In 2010, more than 100 communities held events to draw attention to the tragedy of homelessness, to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our nation’s failure to address the problem, and to recommit to the important task of ending homelessness.  At its last meeting of the year, the Baltimore City Council joined Mayor Rawlings-Blake in dedicating December 21 as Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day in Baltimore. 

For additional information, contact Adam Schneider at 410-215-8319 or aschneider@hchmd.org.

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