For 17 years, House the Homeless has taken time to remember those citizens who have died in poverty in Austin/Travis County.  The first memorial was an informal march from the capitol to then Town Lake after Richard and others realized how many friend had died.  At that time they counted twenty-three souls.

In 1993, Richard obtained a spot on now Lady Bird Lake to plant a live oak and place a memorial plaque.

 

Homelessness

It is the essence of depression

It is immoral

It is socially corrupt

And it is an act of violence.

In the memory of those who have lost their lives on the streets of Austin.

 

In November 2009, House the Homeless held the 17th Memorial and read the names of 158 citiznes including two infants. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In years past, each person has been remembered by a hat on a stake

or a name tied to a carnation or on a ribbon on the tree.  This year the dead were remembered with hand made origami swans.  The name of each person lost in 2009 was attached to an origami swan.  Some believe that the bird will carry the spirit of that individual to heaven. 

The ultimate goal for House the Homeless is to reduce the untimely deaths of homeless citizens by providing opprotunities to get off the streets through job training, living wages, case management, transitional housing, and affordable housing. 

 In the interim, each winter, HTH holds its thermal underwear party to provide warm clothes to protect individuals living outside. This protection is needed to avoid exposure and hypothermia.  The end of each year’s Memorial signals the kick off of the Thermal Underwear Drive when we work diligently to raise the funds necessary to purchase life saving winter clothing.