HRC to sponsor candlelight vigil for Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Dec. 21

from the Eugene Human Rights Commission, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and staff reports

Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day will be marked in Eugene with a candlelight vigil at the Farmers Market Pavilion Dec. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This vigil is a memorial and an outreach event held on the longest night of the year to commemorate and honor the passing of members of our community who were experiencing homelessness at the time of their passing. This event stands as a moment to gather, reflect, and acknowledge the lives of these members of our community.

This space will be a safe and welcoming environment to share memories of those who have passed, celebrate their life, and grieve their loss.

In a Dec. 17 blog entry for the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Marcy Thompson writes: “What’s most tragic is that most of these deaths are preventable: those who lost their life to extreme weather conditions would still be alive if they had been housed; those like Jordan Neely, who died because of violence from other citizens, or at the hands of law enforcement would still be safe if they’d had a place to call home; and those who died as a result of treatable health conditions would still be healthy because, after all, housing is health care.”

To address these preventable deaths in Eugene, and in direct response to public outcry from outreach and shelter leadership, the Eugene Human Rights Commission submitted recommendations to the city in early 2024 on extreme weather conditions.

Specifically, the HRC asked that the city expand its Unsanctioned Camping Posting and Removal Weather Protocols to be more comprehensive and to provide guidelines for enforcement and unhoused response efforts related to Chapter 4 offenses most specifically associated with property, prohibited camping, and trespassing.

The general guidance highlights additional weather conditions that may be hazardous and reflects a more detailed framework for camp clearance that would be more inclusive for protected groups—individuals with disabilities, individuals fleeing domestic violence, individuals with linguistic barriers, and/or individuals experiencing other programmatic barriers to accessing shelter alternatives.

An HRC commissioner noted that although the letter was submitted in time to address heat-related hazards, the city has not taken any action on the recommendations, and we are now entering the winter weather season.  

Saturday’s candlelight vigil is sponsored by the Homelessness and Poverty Work Group of the Eugene Human Rights Commission. The work group intends to provide resources, distribute food and beverages, and hold space for dialogue for members of our community.

Online forms are available to sign up to participate, or to recommend names of those to be memorialized during the 2024 event.