For the 25th consecutive year, homeless individuals who have passed away in Lee County will be remembered.

The Lee County Homeless Coalition will host its annual Candlelight Vigil on Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. on the steps of the Old Lee County Courthouse.

At least 28 members of the homeless community who have passed away while living on the streets or in shelters across Lee County in 2021 are to be memorialized. The date also coincides with the National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, commemorated annually since 1990 on or about Dec. 21, the first day of winter and longest night of the year.

“Part of our mission is to bring awareness to the impact homelessness has in our community. And it is our way of showing respect and dignity to the lives lost over the last 12 months,” said Lee County Homeless Coalition Executive Director Therese Everly. “One can only imagine what it would be like to be homeless.

“One of those individuals was somebody’s mother, sister, brother, friend. That’s why we do it.”

The memorial event also is intended to educate and inspire the public to support the community’s need for more affordable housing, shelters, and accessible health care.

“I want (people) to know that homeless is real, and it exists in Lee County,” Everly said. “We are reading the names of 28 people, but we know there’s more than that. It’s just to have the conversation, talk about it, recognize it, and hopefully figuring out how we can minimize it.”

The vigil will include remarks by Everly and Lee County Homeless Coalition Board Chair William Rodriguez. An opening prayer will be presented by Father Christian Maxwell of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, as well as a performance by the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Choir. Taps will be performed by Harvey Charter, Commander Victor Paul Tuchman Post 400 Jewish War Veterans.

Everly said over the last two years, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated homelessness in the area. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development calls for an individual count each year. In 2020, HUD gave municipalities the option to put the numbers on hold, but Lee County felt it was important to proceed and do they best they could to account for the homeless population. This year, HUD is requiring all throughout the country to participate.

“In Lee County, we’re all in,” Everly said. “We have counted a few more deaths this year than last year. The calls into our office (and partner agencies) have been increasing.”

A troubling circumstance Everly said she’s been experiencing are reports of seniors becoming homeless. She said in Cape Coral last week, it was discovered that a senior couple was living in a U-Haul box truck.

“It’s shocking to see, but it’s not a surprise,” Everly said. “We’re such a big city, so it can be hidden. But if you open your eyes, you do see it.”

Everly has even heard from individuals who are being pushed out of their homes because landlords are selling or renting the property, and tenants can’t afford to find housing elsewhere. Many resort to living in their cars despite being employed.

“The housing vouchers that are out there don’t cover the market rents,” she said. “What happens to those people who don’t make a lot of money? There are people walking around with Section 8 vouchers, but they’re still homeless because landlords won’t accept them. And it’s just not Lee County or Florida.”

Everly also showed great concern for young families.

“The vast majority of folks are living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. “They’re still coming out of the COVID crisis trying to get reemployed. The mental health crisis is bad. It’s just about us coming together and trying to create more resources and increase access to services.”

The Lee County Homeless Coalition is a nonprofit organization comprised of community and faith-based service providers, local businesses, people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, and other advocates committed to ending homelessness. The Coalition’s mission is to advocate, educate and promote awareness of issues and obstacles facing homeless individuals in Lee County through community collaboration, planning, and implementing solutions. For more information on the Lee County Homeless Coalition, visit www.leehomeless.org.

The Old Lee County Courthouse is at 2120 Main St. in Fort Myers.

–Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj