A memorial ceremony was held Thursday in Santa Cruz to remember the 58 homeless people who have died in Santa Cruz County during 2019. Today’s event marks the 21st annual memorial gathering.
Each of the 58 names was read aloud.
Homeless people die 4.5 times more than people who have a home, according to a report released by the Santa Cruz County Homeless Persons Health Project.
County health officials say the average age of death for somebody who’s experiencing homelessness is about 53 years old compared to 71 years for residents who have homes.
