Southern Ohio church to co-host memorial service for people who died homeless in 2025

Southern Ohio church to co-host memorial service for people who died homeless in 2025- From the ENS web page, "[Episcopal News Service] Columbus, Ohio, is facing a homelessness crisis as the number of unhoused people increases annually. At the beginning of 2025, more than 2,550 people were reportedly experiencing homelessness in the state capital. Since then, at least 168 of them have died while unsheltered. “Columbus experiences extreme cold and heat in the winter and summer months, so unhoused people oftentimes die from the weather,” the Rev. Jed Dearing, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church on Columbus’ Capitol Square, told Episcopal News Service. “There are addiction-related deaths from substance abuse, yes, but also mental health problems unrelated to substance abuse that go untreated when you are unhoused. Many unhoused people also die from violence or lack of access to medical care and not getting the medications they need.” Trinity, in partnership with the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless, will honor those 168 people Dec. 18 by hosting an interfaith memorial service for the 22nd year. Dearing will give the opening remarks. The annual memorial service features a keynote speech instead of a traditional sermon. Franklin County Coroner Nathaniel Overmire will be this year’s keynote speaker."