Since January of 2021, at least 7 of our neighbors passed away while experiencing homelessness. On the first official day of winter, their lives will be celebrated while honoring their memories.


BOZEMAN – HRDC firmly believes everyone deserves a warm, safe place to sleep and actively takes measures to provide overnight shelter and housing navigation services for community members in need. Losing 7 lives in one year calls for greater community awareness, support, and engagement. The general public is encouraged to attend the Annual Homeless Persons Memorial Day vigil beginning at 5:30 pm on the front lawn at the Bozeman Public Library. A candlelight vigil will be held followed by a brief memorial service in which the names of those who passed away will be read.

Traditionally held on the first day of winter, the day with the least amount of sunlight, the annual Homeless Persons Memorial Day builds upon the themes of remembrance, hope, and healing, and is commemorated across the U.S. This event is designed to provide a collective space in which to celebrate the lives of those we have lost while honoring their memories.

Studies across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia have confirmed a direct correlation between a lack of housing and increased mortality rates. On average, people with housing in the U.S. can expect to live to age 78. Our neighbors experiencing homelessness can expect to live to an approximate age of 50 (https://nationalhomeless.org/category/mortality/)

Nearly everyone who finds themselves in this unthinkable situation expresses intense feelings of loneliness and invisibility. This event will shine a light on the realities of homelessness across Gallatin Valley while also commemorating the lives of those we have lost – to ensure they are seen, valued, and remembered.

HRDC and its various community partners who are engaged in overcoming this critical and growing challenge, encourage everyone in our region including those experiencing homelessness, advocates, shelters, faith-based organizations, healthcare providers, concerned citizens, city representatives, and local and state legislators, to join the memorial service and to recommit efforts to prevent any additional unnecessary deaths.

Jenna Huey, HRDC’s Emergency Shelter Services Manager, witnesses daily the crucial need to help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. “At our Warming Center, we are prepared to handle double the number of guests we were able to shelter last season and we simply couldn’t do this without the support of the many partners we have throughout our community,” said Huey. Many of those same partners have been involved with organizing and hosting the candlelight vigil and include Continuum of Care, formerly known as the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition, Dahl Funeral Home, Reverends Connie Campbell Pearson and Roxanne Klingensmith of St. James Episcopal Church, Family Promise, Volunteers of America, United Methodist Church, Vietnam Veterans of America, and other local community advocates.