Thirty-nine community members who died while experiencing homelessness remembered during vigil
September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness.
September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Janice Grubb, who lost her daughter Bessie Grubb, is comforted as community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Thirty-nine community members who were experiencing homelessness in Monroe County when they died were remembered during an annual vigil Tuesday night at the Monroe County Courthouse.
Forrest Gilmore of the Shalom Center said it’s the most who have died in one year. Gilmore said, for years few died on the streets in the city and county, but the number has gone back up recently.
“We started seeing people dying outside,” said Gilmore. Gilmore said the causes of death were various, but substance abuse disorders were common factors in many of the deaths.
A list was read during the ceremony:
Michael Adams
Julia Aylward
Jared Bluck
Crystal Chambers
Madonna Conti
David Cottongain
Amber Cowden
Kody Dean
Paul East
Mark Estanislau
Shawna Fox Douglas
Bessie Grubb
Patrick Hardy “Cartoon”
Shandi Hawkins
Thomas Hood
Josh Hunter
Robert King
Sierra Launer
John Mullins
Heather Louise Nanny-Cole
Leroy Neal
Susan Kay Newton
Joey Oakley
Mallory Paige
Durrell Patton
Levi Price
Julie Richardson
Michael Sheeks
Crystal Sims
Joe Singleton
Donna Marie Stevens
Thomas Taylor
Courtney Thorpe
Rebecca Webster
Roy Wells
Joe Wilbur
Marque Wright
The Bloomington Community also lost these advocates who helped those experiencing homelessness:
Mark Emerson
Bob Muldoon
Shirley St. John
Sarah Wasserman
September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Forrest Gilmore speaks as community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)September 22, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana: Community members gather for a vigil in remembrance of the 39 community members living in Monroe County who died in the past year while experiencing homelessness. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Rate this post
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 4.1 / 5. Vote count: 7
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Liked it? Take a second to support The Bloomingtonian on Patreon!