Homeless Vigil on the Winter Solstice

Every year on Winter Solstice (December 21), the National Coalition for the Homeless and homeless service providers around the United States sponsor the National Homeless Person' Memorial Day to call attention the plight of people who are homeless.  This evening is chosen because it is dark the longest; the sunsets at 4:31 today.

The vigil memorializes, with a bronze plaque under a busy downtown overpass, those who have died while living on the street.  Since 1991, Pittsburgh has lost 120 people.  This year only one person is known to have died on the streets (this does not include the number of people who are taken off the streets and brought to the hospital before they die).  While this number is significantly less than those in the past, it does not diminish the value of this person's life. 

Something to think about as we enter into the Holiday Season.