Abode Co-Hosts Candlelight Vigil Honoring Those Who Died While Experiencing Homelessness 

Abode Services joined St. James’ Episcopal Church and Tri-City Interfaith Council as co-hosts of their 11th annual Candlelight Vigil, which was held at the church on a recent Monday evening.

More than 60 people attended the somber interfaith ceremony that memorialized individuals who have passed away this year while experiencing homelessness. The Dec. 2 vigil also featured a call to action to help those in need.

The Reverend Lori Walton, Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church, served as emcee. Other speakers representing various religious faiths included Reshma Inamdar, president of Tri-City Interfaith Council and board member of Abode Services and Abode Property Management; as well as leaders representing the Sikh, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, and Buddhist faiths.  

“Far too many of our neighbors suffer on our streets because they lack the most basic needs,” Walton said. “This vigil is about raising awareness about our responsibility, individually and civically, to care for and recognize the humanity of all our neighbors. This is just one small step towards creating the type of compassionate, supportive society in which we all deserve to live.”

The names of people who passed away while experiencing homelessness last year in Alameda and Santa Clara counties were read by Darrian White, chair of Abode Services Board of Directors, and Katie Fantin, Abode Services’ vice president of programs in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties.

The candlelight vigil ended with a call to action from Vivian Wan, Abode Services’ chief executive officer.

“In times like these, when there are rough waters ahead, I call upon our leaders to remind us that we must sustain hope and use our circle of influence to encourage dignity and forge solutions that really end homelessness, not just empty actions that shuffle our fellow humans around,” Wan said. “Let’s all imagine a world where everyone can find safe and affordable housing in their community, realizing that we all are better off when we do so.”