Day Center Pays Tribute To 55 Homeless Tulsans Who Died In 2021

The Tulsa Day Center honored dozens of people who died while experiencing homelessness this year.

There are 55 names on the list of Tulsans that died while homeless in 2021.

Their lives were honored Tuesday night - and Mack Haltom, the Executive Director of the Tulsa Day Center says their memories won't soon be forgotten.

“They passed on but we want to recognize them," he said. "This is a night that we do this. It’s kind of a national time in our country that we recognize on the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, recognize those that passed on who are experiencing homelessness.”

The Tulsa Day Center holds a memorial service every year, where staff lights candles representing people that were lost throughout the year.

One by one their names were read out and a candle was lit.

“Oftentimes we laughed with them, we cried with them, we experienced life with them... They are overlooked but we certainly want to recognize each and every one," Haltom said.

Each year, hundreds of communities across the country hold memorials on December 21st - the longest night of the year.

Haltom says the number of people that have died homeless in 2021 is the highest it's been in years.