Memorial to recognize 43 lives lost in Sonoma County’s unhoused community this year

On Dec. 19, two days before National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, HomeFirst and the Sonoma County Department of Health Services will host a memorial to honor the 43 individuals who lost their lives between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 while living without housing in Sonoma County. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 6^th St., Santa Rosa, and is open to the public. The space is being provided by FS Global, and Community Foundation Sonoma County granted the needed funding to host the memorial.  

Forty-three lives from the unhoused community were lost this year. The oldest person was 80 and the youngest was 22, with the average age being 58. Thirty-three of the people were men and 10 were women.

The event will bring together members of the unhoused community, service providers, local officials and the public to recognize the individuals who have passed, share stories and reaffirm their commitment to solving homelessness. Candles will be lit to honor each life lost.  

“With this heartfelt commemoration, we recognize the harsh realities that our unsheltered community members face every day and remember and honor those who have lost their lives this past year,” said Nolan Sullivan, director of Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services. “Homelessness is a challenging public health issue and, while the number of unhoused in Sonoma County has dropped considerably, far too many people here and elsewhere continue to suffer from the lack of stable housing.” 

HomeFirst and the Sonoma County Department of Health Services planned the memorial with input from the Lived Experience Advisory and Planning Board (LEAP), a board comprised of individuals who have experienced homelessness. Chessy Etheridge, a member of LEAP, will speak at the event, as will Thai Hilton, the Coordinated Entry coordinator for the Department of Health Services; Hunter Scott, VP for HomeFirst in Sonoma County; and Annie Falandas, a homeless advocate.  

“As we honor the unhoused community members who have lost their lives, we’re reminded that there’s still work to be done,” said Hunter Scott, VP for HomeFirst in Sonoma County. “Seeing our community come together in this way is powerful and, today, local engagement like this is needed more than ever.”  

Homelessness remains a critical issue in Sonoma County. According to the Sonoma County 2025 Homelessness Point-in-Time Count, an annual count of people experiencing homelessness in the region, 1,952 people are unhoused in the county. Although this is a 23% decline from 2024, there is still work to be done. The statistic underscores the importance of coming together to remember those who have passed and the need for continued commitment to supporting the unhoused.  

Reservations to attend are requested. Anyone who is interested in attending the memorial may RSVP online here: www.eventbrite.com/e/1970674578714. 

County of Sonoma — Homelessness Services Division  

Homelessness Services resides with the Department of Health Services and provides compassionate care and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Its HEART Team identifies those experiencing homelessness and works to get them into housing, while its SOUL Team works to keep people sheltered. Additionally, its Ending Homelessness Team serves as the “lead agency” to the federally designated Continuum of Care, now known as the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition. For further information, visit https://sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/homelessness-services/homelessness-services. 

About HomeFirst  

HomeFirst is a nonprofit organization working passionately to end homelessness. We serve the Bay Area community through low-barrier programming (prevention, outreach, shelters, and interim and permanent housing programs) and systems leadership. We meet each person where they are by offering support and resources that address immediate and long-term housing needs. For more information on HomeFirst, visit homefirstscc.org.  

For more information on the County’s Coordinated Entry System, visit https://sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/homelessness-services/resources/sonoma-county-coordinated-entry.

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Media Contacts:   
Sheri Cardo, Communications Specialist
County of Sonoma, Department of Health Services  
sheri.cardo@sonomacounty.gov 
(707) 565-8619

Fiona Brodie, Sr. Director of Strategic Communications
HomeFirst  
fbrodie@homefirstscc.org  
(510) 383-6170