'We can do better': Vigil honors over 500 homeless people who died this year in Maricopa County

More than 50 people gathered at an outdoor patio near The Van Buren in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday evening to remember and honor more than 500 homeless people who died in 2021.

The event, hosted by Central Arizona Shelter Services, or CASS, began with an opening prayer from the Rev. Susan Valiquette of First United Church of Christ.

"Each year, people die on our streets and in our parking lots," Valiquette said. "And for my church, at our doorsteps. No matter the reason, no matter the background, no matter the story, we are here tonight because we believe in human dignity. Because we believe in the sanctity of life. And we believe this is a community issue that needs all of us."

National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day

The CEO of CASS, Lisa Glow, said cities have held ceremonies for National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day on or near the winter solstice since 1990, with Phoenix joining for the first time in years. More than 130 vigils took place across the country this week, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Glow described the harsh consequences of living in homelessness through grim statistics.

"In 2021, over 15,000 people died while homeless nationwide and over 500 right here in Maricopa County," Glow said. "Studies have confirmed a relationship between a lack of housing and increased mortality rates. And homeless persons are three to four times more likely to die than the general population."

Glow said people with housing in the U.S. can expect to live to age 78 on average while a long-term homeless person has a life expectancy of 55. Glow said homeless deaths ranged from birth to 86 years old so far this year, with many dying outside in streets, parking lots and the Arizona desert.

"We must focus on collective action to prevent unnecessary deaths among our homeless neighbors while also recognizing that every one of our neighbors deserves an opportunity to be honored and remembered, which is what we are here to do tonight."

Glow later told The Arizona Republic that the need for shelter space, affordable housing and other resources to combat homelessness has grown significantly.

She said federal dollars as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response have allowed CASS and other organizations to open more shelters and offer more resources.

"The silver lining out of the pandemic is helping to raise awareness and helping us get more options and beds for people," Glow said. "Because it's not just about beds. It's also about helping people get back into permanent housing — we don't have enough of that either. We wouldn't have as much homelessness if we had enough permanent housing."

'Remember all those who lost their lives for lack of housing'

MiAsia Pasha, a CASS board member, recited a poem she wrote offering a glimpse into endless challenges and obstacles unique to those without a place to call home.

"Imagine having to get out of bed each morning at 7 a.m. and into the elements with no place to go. Imagine being the doorman for a group of well-dress strangers that may or may not address you with a greeting as they enter the building in which you live. Imagine having people make decisions that affect your life without even knowing your name. Imagine being treated as a non-person. Imagine being homeless."

After sharing her poem, Pasha told The Republic that she wrote it based on her experience staying at a CASS shelter for five months roughly 30 years ago.

"I kept seeing things that I didn't like," Pasha said. "Because the staff at that time — they were treating people like they weren't worth anything and I couldn't stand that."

Pasha said she eventually joined the CASS board of directors and learned that everyone else on the board were CEOs and presidents of banks and other organizations. They were people with jobs who never experienced homelessness themselves.

"Imagine being on the streets and people walk past you like you don't exist. Imagine being invisible. So when I wrote that poem, I wrote that poem from my heart because I wanted people to understand — imagine being homeless. You don't have to be homeless to imagine it."

Pasha said the staff at CASS had greatly improved over the years with empathy and compassion being at the forefront of the organization's mission, and hopes the same can happen with how the general public views homeless people.

The vigil closed with attendees holding electronic candles while reciting the 500-plus names of those who died and might otherwise have been forgotten. Glow said she hopes for a future where dying on the street is no longer a reality.

"Let us remember all those who lost their lives for lack of housing," Glow said. "Reflect on the shocking inhumanity of homelessness and call for meaningful policy changes to ensure that no life is lived or lost in homelessness. We can do better."

'Wake-up call': 500 homeless people died in Valley in first 9 months of 2020

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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