Recently, I was reading this email from the U.S Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), which reminds us that in many communities across the country, the winter solstice, which is this Tuesday, December 21 – the longest night of the year – is designated as Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have lost their lives while homeless and in many cases as a direct result of their homelessness.
During this holiday season, I want to encourage us all to take a few moments to remember the more than 15,600 people, who passed away this year while experiencing homelessness, and to also keep in mind this number is likely much lower than the full number of homeless lives lost.
And let’s also spend some time thinking about what more we might be able to do, individually and as an organization, to help reduce this number and make substantial progress in our country toward a world in which housing is understood as a basic human right and is actually attainable by every person
This holiday season is also a very hard time of year for many for all kinds of reasons. Let’s be holding them in our hearts as well, even if we don’t know for sure who they might be. I invite us to hold both celebration and grief in our hearts together and take whatever steps we can to keep on helping to make a difference for those who are struggling not just now but throughout the year as well.
In closing, I feel privileged that I have the opportunity to work here at Tenfold with such amazing colleagues, committed donors and volunteers, who do so much to empower people toward stability in housing and greater self-sufficiency!
Blessing to all of you in this holiday season! And let’s dream BIG for 2022.
