Outside of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver on the longest night of the year, David Slocum stood under a pop-up tent and read the names of 42 people who had experienced extended periods of homelessness in the county and who died in 2025. The names of two longtime homeless advocates who died this year were also read.
Standing next to him, Jeff Bellamy, another member of the church, rang a hand chime after each name was read. A crowd of about 125 people gathered in the drizzling rain, holding candles in small plastic cups.
The annual homeless persons memorial happens each year on the winter solstice to honor those who died while living outside, many on cold winter days…