Greeley Holds First Night of Remembrance for People Who Died While Homeless

Greeley will host its inaugural Night of Remembrance on Feb. 19 from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Gazebo, located at 8th Street and 10th Avenue, to honor people who died while experiencing homelessness.

The candlelight vigil will include a solemn reading of names and speakers sharing stories of three community members. The event is organized by the City of Greeley's Homeless Solutions Department and United Way of Weld County.

"While we celebrate our community programs' successes, acknowledging the ongoing challenges is crucial," said Mandy Shreve, Homeless Solutions director. "Every life holds value and deserves recognition. Each individual is someone's beloved family member or friend."

According to United Way data, the 2025 Point-in-Time Count documented 379 people experiencing homelessness in Weld County, with 281 sheltered and 98 unsheltered. The Housing Navigation Center, a United Way program that helps people find housing, served 1,407 unique guests during the 2024–25 program year and helped 637 guests regain housing since its founding.

But the city and county don't publicly track deaths among people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is not uniformly recorded on death certificates or coroners' public tables, making the vigil one of the few public acknowledgments of the crisis.

Families, friends and community members are invited to gather at Lincoln Park for the candlelight reading of names. Attendees should dress warmly; complimentary hot cocoa and apple cider will be provided.