Homeless victims honored at Winter Solstice memorial service

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Thursday night is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. 

It is often one of the coldest nights of the year. 

This can present fatal challenges to Chattanooga’s homeless population. 

The Chatt Foundation held their annual Winter Solstice Homeless Memorial Service. 

The Chattanooga’s Woman Choir performing at the annual Winter Solstice Homeless Memorial Service at the Chatt Foundation.

This service was in memory of the deaths of people in Chattanooga experiencing homelessness in the past year. 

The Chief Financial Officer for the Chatt Foundation, Vanessa Blevins, said the memorial service was designed “to give humanity and dignity to those who have lost their lives in the last year. To us, they are our friends, partners in the work that we do. We try to recognize that, but not forget their contributions as well.” 

In addition to the 110 names honored today by the Chatt Foundation, they honored those that they don’t know who may have passed away in the past year. 

Blevins said, “It is a difficult number to tell about those that are the unknown numbers. We work very hard with all of the collaborative partners in town to make sure we have an accurate count. We try to get in touch with next of kin even if they have been estranged.” 

Blevins says at last count, there are over 3,500 people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton County. 

She says the lack of low barrier shelters is contributing to these deaths. 

Blevins said, “Our community doesn’t have enough overnight beds to meet the need of those that are homeless, and it’s very important that folks have a safe place especially during the winter months.” 

She says the Chatt Foundation is looking for help as well in the form of volunteers and donations.