We will remember 2021

(This recap was written and provided by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless)

Photos by Giles Clasen

For the 32nd year, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (the Coalition) and the Denver community remember the lives of those who passed away while they were experiencing homelessness. The Coalition is committed to memorializing the lives of these individuals and reporting on their deaths in the greatest detail possible to bring attention to the troubling trends impacting people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This is a preliminary snapshot of the data. A full report will also be made available.

According to data collected by Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) and several other direct service organizations, at least 269 PEH passed away in the Denver Metro area in 2021. No demographic or medical information was available for these individuals.

The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office (OME) reported 168 total deaths among people experiencing homelessness between November 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021, up 12 percent from 2020 and 83 percent over the last five years. This includes 17 cases that are still pending investigation and 12 deaths due to COVID-19. 

For more information on this year’s vigil, visit the Colorado Coalition website.

Note: Neither this analysis nor the We Will Remember: Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil program account for all our neighbors who died while experiencing homelessness this year.