Pasadena Church to Hold Memorial for Unhoused Who Died on City's Streets

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All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California will hold an annual memorial service to honor and remember those who died while experiencing homelessness in the city. The service will include reading the names of the deceased and lighting a candle for each person. This tradition has been observed by the church for over a decade.

Why it matters

Homelessness is an ongoing crisis in Pasadena and across Los Angeles County, with thousands of unhoused individuals dying on the streets each year. This memorial service aims to provide dignity and respect for those who have passed, raising awareness of the urgent need for solutions to address homelessness in the community.

The details

The memorial service will take place on Monday evening at 6 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church. During the service, the names of people who died while experiencing homelessness in Pasadena will be read aloud, and a candle will be lit for each individual. A communal supper will follow the service in Sweetland Hall. Community members can submit names of those they wish to have acknowledged during the service by contacting the church.

• The memorial service is an annual tradition that the church has observed for more than a decade.
• The most recent homeless count in Pasadena found 581 people experiencing homelessness, with 342 living unsheltered.
• Across Los Angeles County, 2,508 unhoused people died in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.

What’s next

Community members who wish to submit the name of someone who died while experiencing homelessness for acknowledgment during the service can contact Melissa Hayes at mhayes@allsaints-pas.org or call (626) 583-2725.