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Today is the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. Community activists, homeless service providers, and unhoused people will gather to remember those who died in the homeless community in 2021. The candlelight vigil will be held outside Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at 2031 W 30 St. in Ohio City.
“Winter is a dangerous and difficult time for people who are unhoused in our community,” says Chris Knestrick, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. “When we add the Omicron variant to the equation, this winter has the potential to become a nightmare. We need to re-focus on getting people into de-congregate shelters to keep them alive and safe this winter.”
In 2009, Ohio legislators designated December 21 as Ohio Homeless Memorial Day. For 34 years, the Northeast Ohio Coalition For The Homeless has convened the Cleveland community to remember people experiencing homelessness who have passed away. We will remember our family and friends with candles, live music, prayers, and the reading of their names. NEOCH encourages attending guests to wear a mask and to please be vaccinated.
NEOCH exists to eliminate the root causes of homelessness while loving our diverse community through organizing, advocacy, education, and street outreach.