National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Vigil Friday At Holy Trinity

In recognition of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on December 20, Wherever You Are Healthcare for the Homeless (WYA) —a program of Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)— and St. Vincent de Paul Middletown will host a memorial service and candlelight vigil Friday, December 20, 2012, 4:00 – 5:00 pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 381 Main Street, in memory of the areas’ homeless residents who passed away in 2013, and to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless in our city.

The memorial service is open to the public; those who are homeless or near homeless are encouraged to attend. Guest speakers include Mayor Dan Drew; Senator Paul Doyle; Ron Krom, Executive Director, St. Vincent de Paul; Ann Faust, Middlesex County Coalition on Housing & Homelessness.

According to the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, in 2013 Connecticut’s emergency shelters served more than 14,000 people (an increase of almost 30% since 2011), including over 2,500 children. The state’s unsheltered population increased by nearly one third between 2011 and 2013, and has increased 82% since 2009. Connecticut has seen a 10 percent increase in chronic homelessness among families with children between 2012 and 2013. Of the 4,506 total people counted during a one-day snapshot of Connecticut homelessness in January 2013, 235 were counted in Middlesex County; 23 percent were families (including children) and 77 percent were adults (without children).