They 'died without a place to call home' - remembering Birmingham's homeless in poignant ceremony

There were songs, sadness, comaraderie and defiance as around 50 people gathered in a snow-blanketed Birmingham Peace Gardens this week to remember those who have died while homeless in the city. In a first-of-its-kind memorial event, support workers, charity representatives, family, friends and loved ones gathered together to pay tribute to those who die annually in the city without a place to call home.

Among them were sisters Esther and Juliana, who wanted to be there despite the cold to remember their beloved brother David Adebona, who died aged 61 of pneumonia in an unregistered hostel for the homeless in Westminster Road, Handsworth. The conditions in the property he lived in were desperately substandard, yet despite repeated pleas for help the family were told it was the only available room for him. The hostel has since closed.

Said Esther: "We are honoured to be here today at this beautiful memorial service - we believe our brother was neglected in his later life, and it seems he was not alone, judging by the stories we have heard today. The least he and others deserve is to be remembered in death. May they all now rest in peace."

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The gathering, held Tuesday (November 19), was the brainchild of Ailish Whitehouse, who leads the city's rough sleeper initiative for Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, in partnership with the city council. She was moved to act after beginning her own investigations into deaths among the homeless communities in the city. She said she 'could not be prouder' of those who helped make it possible, giving those with experience of homelessness the chance to grieve together.

Supporting the effort were city organisations Change Grow Live, Shelter, Crisis, Sifa Fireside, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, Trident, the University of Birmingham, Colmore BID and Birmingham City Council. Attendees enjoyed music, poetry, hot food and hot drinks in the snow.

The Choir With No Name Birmingham and The City Jam, two organisations made up of people who have experienced homelessness, sang and played music, with a hugely poignant rendition of Missing You by the Choir featuring original poetry by members about loved ones they had lost.

Addressing those gathered, one of the organisers said: "Being homeless is an experience that is difficult to grasp unless you have lived through it. It is not just about lacking a physical space to stay, it is a constant battle against uncertainty, vulnerability and isolation. Every day becomes a struggle for survival - finding food, finding warmth and finding safety. The world can feel at times a hostile place...at one time in my own life I experienced four years of homelessness, I lived and slept on the same streets we are on today to remember those we have lost, and for that I feel extremely lucky to be here.

"A homeless memorial is a time to reflect and honour those who have passed away...it is a solemn reminder of the dignity and worth of each of those people, regardless of their circumstances. As we gather in remembrance we remember the lives lost but also remember the realities of homelessness, which can so easily render people invisible in our society. Each name represents more than just a statistic, it tells the story of someone's hopes, troubles and humanity. Behind every face is a person who loved, dreamed and contributed in ways often overlooked, or they may have faced hardships and challenges in their own life, this memorial ensures they are not forgotten."

He added: "In reflecting on their lives, we must also reflect on our own....and ensure that fewer people are forced into the shadows of homelessness. We need to create a society where everyone has a space to call home...let this inspire compassion and action.

There are hopes that collective efforts will now be made to demand that lives snuffed out prematurely while homeless, often due to physical or mental ill health, the persistent cold and poor care, and drug or drink dependencies, are not overlooked or treated as 'lesser' than anyone else. At the finale of the three hour event, the grey sky over the gardens in Bath Row/Granville Street briefly filled with white eco-friendly balloons, a poignant symbol of the lives lost.

Pete Churchill, musical director of The Choir With No Name Birmingham, said around 50 people with experience of homelessness rehearsed weekly. All of its members had experienced loss, he said, and some had helped write verses to the song Missing You to reflect their feelings. The organisation's big Christmas concert is on December 16th, at St Martins in the Bullring.

Walter Donaldson, 58, said he had been homeless in the past. He was remembering his fiancee May Hogan, who froze to death after falling in snow, close to the flat they had shared at the time, in a tragic incident in 2012. He had helped write the song performed by the choir.

Reuben Fraser, 42, told how he had been living on the streets when younger and had been exploited and vulnerable, and suffered mental health issues which left him near suicidal, only to finally get the help he had been craving after years of being dismissed. He described how he was supported by a homeless charity and subsequently discovered the choir, which he said 'saved me'. He has since been reunited with his family, is a father, and is 'in a good place' and now helps others.

Darren, known as Shilty, entertained those gathered with tunes on his guitar. He said his homeless journey had lasted years but being diagnosed with autism recently had changed his life. He had given up alcohol, and opened up to more help. 'Many homeless people have mental health issues, but they are dismissed," he said.

It is estimated that at least 1,500 people experiencing homelessness died in 2023 across the country. The exact numbers are difficult to ascertain, with calls for a register to be kept listing all those who are known to have succumbed. At present only informal registers are kept by charities, supplemented with information gathered by Birmingham's Coroner's office, the adult safeguarding team and the Office of National Statistics.

Harpal Bath, head of multiple disadvantage at Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, said: "Today we remembered and said goodbye to those in Birmingham who died without a place to call home. Thank you to all those who attended, provided the refreshments and the heart warming performances and poetry; and to the organisers for providing this opportunity to say goodbye and pay tribute to friends. Life expectancy for homeless men is 43 years, and 41 years for women. No one chooses to be homeless - services must look at what we can do better to reduce homelessness in all its forms so there is not a need to hold such events."

If you have been affected by this story, or can help record the names, faces and stories of those who have died while homeless, living in hostels, in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing, do please email jane.haynes@reachplc.com to help us ensure they are not dismissed or forgotten.