Hundreds of deaths this year are already 42% higher than last year’s total, and the year isn’t over yet.
Maricopa County, Arizona — Beatrice X. Johnson is back at Perry Park in Phoenix wearing a shirt with two photos of her sister.
“This wasn’t the house we chose for her, but this is the one she chose,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s sister, Dorothy Jeanne Dale Chambers, lived freely in Perry Park.
Johnson said she and other family members would check on her and bring her food while Chambers lived here.
“She was very funny. She loved music,” Johnson said.
In April 2022, Chambers and boyfriend Joseph Gutierrez were killed after being hit by a truck at a nearby 32nd Street and Yale crosswalk.
Related: I-Team: Phoenix Intersection Signal Project Delayed Months As Family Mourns Couple Who Died At Intersection
“I want my sister to be remembered as a human being, not disposable,” Johnson said. “She wasn’t disposable. Joseph Gutierrez wasn’t disposable.”
The couple are just two of the 736 homeless people who have died so far this year, according to Maricopa County data.
There may be 450 more, but the county has not determined whether they are homeless.
Their names are now on a banner at one of Arizona’s Central Shelter Services shelters in honor of Wednesday’s National Homeless Day.
CASS President and CEO Lisa Glow said:
The hundreds of people who died this year are already 42% higher than last year’s total and the year is not over yet.
“They represent individuals, individuals you may know, individuals who never imagined they would be homeless,” Grow said.
Data Maricopa County provided to 12News so far does not include deaths in December, but at least 112 people known to be homeless have been killed this year. . At least 60 died of natural causes.
“We know that people who have been homeless for many years have more health problems. They die younger. We need to give them the support they need,” Groh said.
CASS and others are expanding their shelter space this year and have more plans for the future, but Glow says they need more space.
“The lack of shelter has led to an increase in deaths on the streets. Babies died on the streets, many elderly people died on the streets. Told.
Despite his sister being beaten to death months earlier, Johnson has returned to help the unprotected in Perry Park and recognizes the need there.
“Some of us here will give up our last breath to prevent this from happening to the next unprotected person,” Johnson said.
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