Behind every number is a name, a life and a story. This year, Wake County's Homelessness Memorial will honor fewer lives lost on the streets than in years past – a bittersweet milestone that reflects both the ongoing tragedy of homelessness and the positive steps taken to address it.

“Each life we honor is a reminder that one loss is one too many,” said Commissioner Vickie Adamson of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “This year, we mourn fewer than 50 lives compared to 75 last year – a sign that our efforts in Wake County are making a difference. But until that number is zero, there is still much work to be done to ensure everyone has a safe and stable place to call their own.”

The memorial will take place at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the South Wilmington Street Center Campus, 1420 S. Wilmington St. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live streamed on the Wake County Government Facebook page. Attendees joining in person are encouraged to dress warmly for this outdoor event.

Several key developments over the past year may have contributed to this year’s decline in deaths:

• The opening of the Bryant Center: This new emergency drop-in shelter in downtown Raleigh offers a safe, warm place to sleep every night, regardless of the temperature. Located at 401 W. Cabarrus St. and managed by Metropolitan Community Church, the shelter is a joint effort by Wake County and the City of Raleigh.
• Reopening of the Cornerstone Service Center: After an $4 million investment and 11 months of renovations, the newly improved facility has reopened to provide expanded services for highly vulnerable residents. The center now offers 20 units for those experiencing chronic homelessness with health and mental health needs, along with support to help residents transition to stable, independent living.
• Harm reduction and Opioid Settlement funding: Rapid response teams and harm reduction efforts funded through North Carolina’s opioid settlement have expanded community resources and helped prevent avoidable tragedies.
   

This year’s memorial will feature the names of individuals remembered by local organizations, including Healing Transitions, South Wilmington Street Center, Food 4 Thought, Church in the Woods and others.

The event is an opportunity for the community to come together to grieve those we’ve lost and reflect on what can be done to ensure everyone has access to a safe and stable place to call home.