Meghan Hoyer
The Virginian-Pilot
©
Bill Mahoney was a Vietnam veteran who took Julie Burks under his wing and taught her the ropes of homelessness: how to clean up in the bathroom of a grocery store, which churches serve meals.
Demetria Grier had heart and mental health problems, but she loved to dance and sing gospel music, said her mother, Yolanda Cluke.
Karen Francis died about five years ago, but former boyfriend Charles Billingsley didn't know it until about a month ago.
They are three of the 49 people who have died homeless in the streets of Virginia Beach since 1990 - about seven in the last year alone.
Virginia Beach and Portsmouth held memorials Monday on the longest night of the year to honor those people, their friends and their families.
"This is my way of saying goodbye to her," Billingsley said of reading aloud his former girlfriend's name during the Virginia Beach ceremony at The Lighthouse Center.
Officials in both cities mentioned the plans they've adopted to provide more shelter for the homeless. But they acknowledged homelessness hasn't gone away.
In Portsmouth, the city's Homeless Action Consortium, a partnership of city officials and local organizations, honored six homeless or formerly homeless residents who died in 2009.
"This is an important year for it," said Rusty Jordan, Portsmouth's director of social services. "We're seeing more families experiencing a significant growth in poverty. We have more and more people falling into it every day."
The names of the deceased were read as Trinity Episcopal Church's bells rang out.
The list included Henry Blount, a 68-year-old man who died on the streets of Olde Towne earlier in the year. And 53-year-old Tony Anderson, who passed away Friday.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 222-5119, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com
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It's a shame----
That anyone is homeless, especially this time of year. But the vast majority are homeless because of their own choices. Some on the other hand have no choice. Those are the ones that really need the help. You may wish to be judgmental but remember --- "But for the Grace of God go I". Not everyone is out there by choice.
Really???
Almost all of those people chose to be homeless. They are a drain on society and produce no benefit to others. I agree with the earlier post regarding coverage of the soldiers that protect our way of life.
really?
I agree that the soldiers who have dedicated their lives to defend our country should be honored. Where would be without them? But, does anyone really believe that someone would make a conscious coherent choice to experience homelessness? A choice to sleep at best; in a shelter, or maybe a rubber mat on a church floor, or outside on bitter cold nights? To say they are a drain on society and produce no benefit is way off the mark. Many of these folks are the very VETS you said we should be honoring, or does it only count if they dont come back with mental health disorders such as PTSD. Then the argument, "they bum money to buy drugs", a common theme. Maybe so, maybe you would too if you could not get the help you need just so you can cope with day to day life. Which came first, the chicken or the egg, the substance abuse, the mental illness, the developmental disorder, or the homelessness? Cannot always say for sure. But no one should question their value until you have walked in their shoes. Its easy to point a finger and make uneducated statements, go get involved and be a part of the solution. You might be surprised.
Homeless Memorials
Too bad you cannot give this much press to our American military heroes who die defending these homeless people. the military is our knight's in shining armor. The homeless are not the heroes.
Selective Reporting
Is the Homeless Memorial Service in Norfolk not newsworthy enough?
I wish I'd known
I knew a homeless lady who died that past year. I would like to have known about a service.
Dislike
Nausiating