Tribute held for 95 people who died homeless in 2018

Annual memorial service is in its 14th year and has marked 801 deaths

Donna Robillard ended up living on the streets for a number of years after receiving news of an HIV diagnosis in 2006.

The 51-year-old mother of three and grandmother of soon-to-be seven spoke Wednesday afternoon about her experience with homelessness at the 14th annual Edmonton Homeless Memorial at Boyle Street Community Services, 10116 105 Ave.

Robillard said she turned to drugs and alcohol, believing she was “not worth it anymore,” and ended up living on the streets.

“It was hard for me to find a place to sleep, a place to eat, I don’t like being around other people when I was high or anything,” she said.

One day she said she was missing her family and was sick of the way she was living and “felt her body shutting down.”

“I realized that I wanted to live. I wanted to be there for my kids and my grandbabies, my family,” said Robillard.

Robillard was eventually able to reach out to services that helped guide her towards a more stable situation. She is now nine years sober.

Many, however, do not have the same success story as Robillard, who has witnessed the effects of homelessness on others.

“I’ve seen people get stabbed in front of me, I’ve seen people overdose,” said Robillard.

The Edmonton Homeless Memorial, presented by the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECHH) recognized 95 people — 74 men and 21 women — whose deaths were linked to homelessness in 2018.

Gail Haynes with the Canadian Mental Health Association-Edmonton Branch, a member agency of ECHH, emceed the memorial.

She said the gathering was about taking time for family and friends to grieve those in Edmonton who have died as a direct or indirect result of not having a home.

“We gather as a community to pray for and support those today who are without adequate housing,” said Haynes.

“We gather to increase awareness in the community of the extent of homelessness and its tragic consequences.”

Since the memorial began 14 years ago, 801 deaths have been documented as part of the memorial.

Ed Kaiser People lay commemorative flowers Tuesday at the Homeless Memorial Plaza across from city hall during the 14th annual service to honour people who died in situations of homelessness or poor housing.