Lives of people who died while unhoused remembered at Greeley vigil ...Saudi Arabia

On a frigid Thursday night, 32 candles were lit along the steps of the gazebo in Lincoln Park. Each candle represented someone who died while experiencing homelessness in Greeley.

To show respect and honor people who died while experiencing homelessness, the city’s Homeless Solutions department and United Way of Weld County hosted the Night of Remembrance on Thursday evening at Lincoln Park, 800 10th St.

As attendees shivered from the cold, the Rev. Ben Konecny, of the First Congregational Church said the cold served a reminder that people experiencing homelessness do not have the luxury of finding refuge from the elements.

“Many of us do not experience the elements like many in our community do,” he said. “It is good that we are reminded of that continued need for us to care for the most basic needs of those in our society.”

Of the 32 names of people who died while homeless read during the vigil, Mark Howey knew 27 of them. As a housing case manager, he said he spent a lot of time engaging with the unhoused community.

Howey said Lincoln Park was where Joseph Carrisales used to sleep, and described him as a “momma’s boy” and a father of three.

“He was the funniest man I ever met, even when he was in pain,” Howey said.

He also spoke of Kathleen Gonzales, who was homeless for about 15 years, saying she was the “mom of the group” and always made sure people had clothes and food.

He described Rocky Tawyea as a great dancer, who always tried to teach Howey how to dance despite his two left feet.

“The point is, all these individuals are real people. They’re not defined by the things they went through,” Howey said.

Howey said no one deserves to be forgotten and that simply knowing someone’s name can go a long way. He encouraged people to get to know their unhoused neighbors on a personal level.

Councilwoman Deb DeBoutez said the event was a reminder that people are more than their circumstances.

“They were sons and daughters, parents, siblings, friends, artists, workers and dreamers,” DeBeoutz said. “They had favorite songs and inside jokes and hopes that may not have been visible to the world, but were real nonetheless.”

Homeless Solutions Director Mandy Shreve said the department aim to make homelessness rare and brief.

Combating homelessness is a community effort that has to be catered to each individual, she added. Some people may just need to be reconnected with a family member, while others may need temporary housing to find employment.

When people become homeless, people often ignore them and stop looking at them in the eyes. But Shreve said being homeless doesn’t stop them from being people.

“It’s really important for the community to know that these are individuals just like us, they are part of our community,” Shreve said.

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