Residents gathered at the Glen Huntington Bandshell on Dec. 19 to remember those who died after experiencing homelessness, singing songs, sharing stories and holding a moment of silence. The event was part of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, which takes place each year on Dec. 21.
This year, 47 names were read. That’s fewer than last year but consistent with recent years.
Shanan Collins, chief operations officer at Haven Ridge, shared stories about two women who had stayed at the organization’s shelter, the Lodge. Jennifer “Trinity” Newman painted two murals at the shelter — one of an aspen tree and another of a pine tree. Collins said Trinity added aliens in the branches of the pine tree mural, as well as spaceships and magic mushrooms.
“That was Trinity,” Collins said. “Trinity was so fun, and she was so full of life, and she had so much talent, and she will be missed.” Collins also remembered Jeri Burnham, who filled her room with rocks, wood and dried flowers. “She found solace in nature in the creek that was nearby,” Collins said. “Jeri was fun.”
Bill Briggs, a professor emeritus in mathematics at the University of Colorado Denver, read a statement from Jen Livovich, who was homeless in Boulder from 2012 to 2017 and later founded nonprofits to support unhoused people. Livovich mentioned Sherri Bosworth, who had attended Feet Forward outreach events before getting housed and volunteering for the organization. “She had a big heart and a caring soul,” Livovich’s statement read. “She loved her children and was just a kind human being.” Livovich also described Cheryl Bailey as charismatic and eccentric, greeting everyone with a large smile.
James Evans, known as Radagast, spoke about Zaria Hardee, a 19-year-old whose body was found on July 14 in a bike trailer in the Goss Grove neighborhood. “Despite the challenges she faced, she had a light about her. Zaria had a way of making you feel seen, even when the world seemed determined to ignore her,” Radagast said. “She was kind, resourceful and fiercely independent.” Radagast described her death as “cruel, avoidable and gruesome,” urging those attending the memorial to turn their grief into action.
“Let our grief inspire us to action,” Radagast said. “Let it remind us that every life matters and that none of these deaths are inevitable if we choose to care enough to make a change.”
Michelle Rodriguez, who has experienced homelessness, said Hardee’s mother still seeks justice. Rodriguez also said that many people named in the memorial were housed at the time of their deaths.
“A lot of these people were already inside. It didn’t make a difference,” Rodriguez said. “I lived on the streets here for five years. I’m inside for six years now. I’m still healing. It doesn’t end by getting inside.”
In January, volunteers counted 727 people experiencing homelessness in Boulder County. While this is a decrease from last year’s count of 839, it is still the second-highest figure recorded since the count began in 2017.
So sad for a county filled with strictly millionaires and billionaires.
No what’s sad is all those millionaires trashing the homeless people every second of every day. Actually I personally know some of them have murdered a few homeless back in 2016. And the cops covered it up… What’s sad is y’all pretending to care when they die. But, Throwing slushies in their face mid winter, literally I had it personally happen to me from one y’all’s college kids when I was homeless there from 2015-18.
If only progressives could muster a modicum of the energy, excitement and innovation for attacking homelessness that they do for climate change, we would have something to work with and could do things that create better outcomes for many. The number of departments at the city engaged in climate initiatives is impressive and they are doing real work. Not so for homelessness.