Service Is Planned to Remember Homeless Dead

About a dozen homeless people who died in the San Fernando Valley this year will be memorialized at Sepulveda United Methodist Church.

“It is important that we no longer forget that homeless people have lived and died in our backyard,” said John Horn, chairman of the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition. “These are people who are homeless, who didn’t have a direct connection to their families. They had friends who were homeless and didn’t have the funds to provide them with a proper burial.”

After a brief introductory message, the floor will be opened to speakers. Last year, about 300 people attended, Horn said.

Names will be read and candles will be lighted in their memory at the two-hour service. This is the second year the SFVHC has celebrated National Homeless Memorial Day, which was created in 1990 by the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“The national coalition wanted to do a yearly remembrance of homeless people who have died in the U.S. to draw attention to the tragedy of street homelessness, and to bring attention to policies and legislation that have helped the homeless or have hurt the homeless,” Horn said.

He said the service is also designed to educate the public.

“Last year, my father attended. He really gained a greater awareness of the problems people face,” Horn said.

The service will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at the church, 15435 Rayen St., North Hills.

Free transportation for the homeless will be provided to and from the county’s cold-weather shelter in North Hollywood.

SFVHC will also distribute holiday meals, hygiene kits and blankets after the service, Horn said.