'Longest Night' Will Honor RivCo's Homeless Who Died On The Street

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The plight of the region's homeless and ongoing efforts to provide resources to help them will be at the heart of multiple events planned Thursday in Riverside, Hemet and Indio.

Riverside County officials have organized gatherings to commemorate the "Longest Night," which precedes the winter solstice by just two days, serving as an occasion to underscore the adversity facing those on the streets or otherwise unsheltered, as well as honor those who have died under the same circumstances.

"We remain steadfast in our mission to uplift those facing homelessness by providing critical resources and care," Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Washington said. "Events like these help us honor those we've lost while continuing the fight for solutions that bring hope and change."

A Longest Night ceremony is scheduled between 5 and 8 p.m. Thursday at Fairmount Park, 2601 Fairmount Blvd., Riverside. Representatives from the county and city will be in attendance.

A similar ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Thursday at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, 47-470 Van Buren St., Indio, and at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Hemet Behavioral Health Clinic, 650 N. State St.

Along with remembrance services, county Behavioral Health workers and volunteers from regional nonprofits will be handing out blankets, jackets, hygiene products, snacks and information sheets on how to obtain county services. Additionally, Narcan, an opioid antagonist nose spray that can arrest the effects of an overdose from fentanyl and other illicit drugs, will be distributed, officials said.

"Through comprehensive initiatives, such as housing support, job training and health services, we aim to offer a pathway to stability and dignity for every individual," county Housing & Workforce Solutions Director Heidi Marshall said.

To date in 2024, Riverside County "has helped more than 5,711 individuals find stable housing," according to an HWS statement.

"The county also assisted 18,339 individuals through our system of care," the agency stated.

The county's most recent comprehensive Point-In-Time homeless survey, conducted in January 2023, identified 3,725 homeless individuals countywide, a 12% increase from 2022. The counts are conducted biannually, and the next one is slated for this coming winter.

Thursday's events are open to all residents.