SPOKANE, Wash. – A memorial at the CHAS Health Clinic honors 217 un-housed individuals who died this year. The ceremony offering not just remembrance but also vital connections to health resources and a hot meal.
Andrew Fetting, who has experienced homelessness for at least two years, shared his journey.
“I’ve met a lot of good people in this town. I’ve heard a lot of people have passed from, past experiences or usage or even car accidents or whatever,” said Fetting.
He has been on a long trek from Florence, Oregon, aiming to reunite with his three-year-old daughter in Wyoming.
“I’ve been hitchhiking, and it took me seven months to get here from Florence, Oregon, which normally five years ago, it took two days,” Fetting said.
Fetting expressed his excitement about meeting his daughter for the first time.
“It’s awesome. I get to meet her for the first time. I came back to Oregon because my dad died, so I didn’t get to meet her,” he said.
The memorial was not just about honoring the deceased; it provided practical help. Fetting appreciated the food offered.
“Mashed potatoes, chili and macaroni and cheese and hot chocolate and coffee. Very good,” said Fetting.
Candy Rosas, a community health worker and medical assistant at CHAS, emphasized the importance of healthcare access for everyone.
“Those who have passed, there was a few that I was very fond of and it’s just unfortunate to not know how they passed away. We just know that they’re gone,” said Rosas.
Rosas stressed the mission of providing health help without judgment.
“It’s not us versus them, we’re a community,” she said.
The focus is on increasing health access and reducing mortality rates among those who cannot reach the clinic.
“Hypothermia is like a huge factor. A lot of our folks deal with various lesions and wounds, as well as eventually suffer from amputations due to having to stay outside,” Rosas said.
The memorial highlighted how quickly circumstances can change.
“It could be a paycheck, it could be an illness that, takes away, a roof over our head,” said Rosas.
The event at the CHAS Health Clinic underscored the importance of community support and resource accessibility for those experiencing homelessness.
