SJ Memorial 2023

SAN JOSE, CA – Local service providers throughout Santa Clara County will gather to commemorate 201 lives lost to homelessness in 2023 with a Memorial for our unhoused neighbors on December 19, 2023. Started two decades ago by HomeFirst, the memorial seeks to honor lives lost, to highlight the trauma that homelessness inflicts on people, and the need to increase safe and stable housing for all members of our community.

 

The memorial will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Boccardo Reception Center at 2011 Little Orchard Street in San Jose. The program will include comments from San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and HomeFirst CEO Andrea Urton, and a blessing by Bishop Oscar Cantú from the Diocese of San Jose. Numerous local elected officials, nonprofit partners, and other community members will read the names of those who died aloud one by one. For many of the 203 individual names that will be read, the memorial will be the only commendation they receive.

 

Based on the annual report from the Santa Clara County Coroner’s office, the overall deaths reflect the sheer number of unhoused people in Santa Clara County – 9,903, according to the 2023 Point in Time Count. The deaths also underscore the disproportionate dangers faced by unhoused individuals, including drug overdoses, homicide, suicide, exposure to the elements, and premature lethality of treatable conditions like heart and kidney disease. While the average age of death in the United States is 78 years old, of the 201 people who died, the average age was 50 years old. The youngest was 20 years old, and the oldest was 86 years old.

 

This year’s deaths show an 18% drop compared to 2022, highlighting the progress made locally to provide a comprehensive response to homelessness through the provision of 408.539.2100 @HomeFirstServices @HomeFirstServices_SCC @HomeFirstServices www.homefirstscc.org increased shelter and services for the unhoused. However, the numbers also show a 61% increase in deaths over the last decade, demonstrating the need for continued focus and investment locally to address the homeless crisis.

 

“No one should be living or dying on our streets,” said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. “Homelessness is an emergency, and we must use every tool at our disposal to rapidly provide safe shelter for everyone.”

 

“The Homeless Memorial provides each of us an opportunity to reflect on life, the important work performed by homeless service providers, as well as our City, County, and community partners, and most importantly, honor those lives lost tragically due to homelessness,” said Andrea Urton, CEO of HomeFirst. “It allows for us to commemorate those lives lost and come together to reaffirm our commitment to ending homelessness.”

 

For nearly 45 years, HomeFirst has been serving the Bay Area community. Through a Housing First model of care, HomeFirst offers prevention, outreach, shelters, and interim and permanent housing programs to individuals who are housing insecure or unhoused and residing in either Santa Clara or Sonoma County.