Memorial Held for Homelessness Victims

Hunger. Frostbite. Overdoses. Beatings.

Whatever the cause, homelessness cost lives in Baltimore County and on Tuesday, nearly two dozen of the victims' names were read at a vigil a in Towson.

The vigil was held to coincide with the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Religious, government and organization leaders gathered along with a contingent of homeless people to pay respects.

According to a point-in-time survey conducted early this year, 891 people are homeless in Baltimore County, which marked a 25 percent jump from 2009. The 2011 survey will be conducted in early January. Of those counted this year, 47 percent were white, 42 percent were black, 11 percent were veterans and 34 percent were homeless for the first time.

It was the county's third annual such memorial service. Sue Bull, coordinator of homeless services for Baltimore County, said the deaths were an "unfortunate reality" of homelessness.

Lester Paradise, a homeless man who lives in a shelter in Catonsville, was asked to give his story. Paradise, homeless since 2005, spoke about friends who died tragically in illnesses and accidents. One died from an overdose shortly after finding housing. Another developed bone cancer and "deteriorated right in front of our eyes."

One was listening to music while drunk when his friends, also drunk, put him down on the train tracks. His headphones were on. He never heard the train coming.

Paradise implored the crowd to show more compassion for panhandlers often out at intersections, that not all of them are scammers.

"A lot of them are really sincere, so if you offer to take them to McDonald's, they'd appreciate it because they probably haven't eaten in days," Paradise said. "There are people out there willing to help; it's not just thugs trying to beat us up."

Though it's unclear exactly how many people died of causes related homelessness in the county, the 19 names read were ones the county knew about or had been submitted by those in attendance.

Bull held back tears as she talked about one of the men whose name was read. She met a man known as "One-Eyed Rick" while visiting an encampment off Route 40 in Rosedale during the point-in-time homeless census early this year. He enthusiastically welcomed Bull into his tent, where he had everything he needed.

Bull told the crowd she learned of the "cruel thing that happened" only when Rick's name was being read.

"The thing that we do tonight, the thing that we can do best is dispel the myths" of homeless people as lazy or unwilling to find housing, she said, adding that many are "quick to judge" of homeless people with signs on medians.

James Frye, a homeless man who said he lives in a well-hidden pair of tents "north of Towson," also knew one of the men whose name was read. Bill Miller and later died. Workers at the , where he was a regular, remembered him fondly as a would-be rocker.

"He was a real quiet guy," said Frye, 62. "He liked to drink, but that's him."

After the service, those gathered walked down the street to the nearby homeless memorial, erected in recent years to mark the deaths, and read two poems, including one by Emily Dickinson. The poem? "Not In Vain."

The next point-in-time survey will be held Jan. 20. Baltimore County's office of homeless services is looking for volunteers to help—those interested can call 410-887-2886.