City leaders, clergy and around 40 Tucson community members joined Primavera Foundation and hundreds of communities across the U.S. to commemorate the lives of those who died without a safe place to call home. As part of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, Primavera hosted the annual ceremony on Fri., Dec. 20, at Paupers’ Field at Evergreen Cemetery, 3015 N. Oracle Road, Tucson.
Following reflections from Primavera Foundation CEO Tisha Tallman, Primavera Foundation Board President Andy Rouse, and Pima County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Hess and a musical interlude, Primavera staff and Emeritus Board Member Debbie Wong and Board Member Trayce Peterson read the names of over 220 individuals who died while experiencing homelessness this year. Another 63 individuals who died in Pima County but were unidentified were acknowledged with a moment of silence and the ringing of a bell.
“The deaths are a reflection of us as a society, as a nation, as Tucsonans,” Tallman said. “The need is so great. It takes each and every one of us in all of our respective roles and positions to move the needle on poverty and homelessness.”