TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — As part of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, Primavera Foundation, along with city leaders, clergy, and Tucson community members, hosted an annual ceremony Monday evening to commemorate the lives of those who died while living on the streets.
The ceremony was held at Evergreen Mortuary and Cemetery located on 3015 N. Oracle Road.
Tisha Tallman, Primavera Foundation CEO, says 250 people died while experiencing homelessness in Pima County over the past year. Of the 250, 182 were identified deaths, 154 were men and 28 were women.
According to Tallman, of the 182 identified, 170 people died from accidental causes, while six were victims of homicide and six died by suicide.
"Of the 170 lives of whose cause of death was deemed to be an accident, 110 were drug related, intoxication, toxicity, poison and injury, or poison and disease. 21 by injury, disease or infection," Tallman explained. "18 by being hit by cars as a pedestrian, and one on a bike by a car, six by hypothermia. Of the 182 identified lives lost, 44 of them were found in unknown locations. 42 of them in a hospital, 21 in the desert, 11 in an alley, eight on the road and seven in the street. Their punishment for poverty was death, what will be ours?"
As each name was read, a bell was rang in their honor, also recognizing the 68 unidentified individuals who lost their lives.
"In the wealthiest country in the world we failed them as neighbors and as a community," Tallman said.
Since 1983, Primavera Foundation has focused on addressing the root causes of homelessness, including services such as shelters and intervention and prevention programs.
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Primavera reports that while homelessness has decreased from its 2022 peak, the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) count facilitated by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness identified 1,281 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, more than twice the 2020 figure.
In addition, after a sharp decrease between 2019 and 2022, the number of persons experiencing sheltered homelessness increased by over 42% since 2022.
Tallman revealed that even some individuals Primavera had assisted were among those who died.
"So there was an individual who did a housing assessment at our drop-in center within this past year and was able to get housing and was found unresponsive in her apartment this morning," Tallman said.
Following the ceremony, attendees placed white roses on grave sites in Pima County's Pauper's Field, creating a powerful moment for Carroll Bowman, who once experienced homelessness himself.
"Could of been one of them myself," Bowman said. "When I left [Salvation Army] hospitality house, I went into Primavera men's shelter and that's basically how I've been trying to pay it back."
Bowman volunteers at Primavera's resource center, doing as much as he can to help others battling the same struggles he once did.
Community member Connie Cardarelle attended the ceremony to support the homeless community, bringing handmade scarves and warm clothing donations.
The ceremony touched Cardarelle personally. Her sister, who had dementia, died last year, and she says the disease could have put her at risk of homelessness.
"She was wandering and losing where she was direction wise. It wouldn't have surprised me that you know within six months, she would have been on the street herself," Cardarelle said.
Tallman hopes the memorial will inspire more people to join Primavera's mission to create pathways out of poverty.
"People don't have to struggle in our community. If we collectively come together, we can all do amazing things together," Tallman said.
Primavera accepts donations, such as blankets, jackets, gloves, hats, grocery gift cards, books and hygiene items.
Items may be dropped off at the Primavera Foundation Training Center, 151 W. 40th Street. Visit its website to make arrangements.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Vanessa Gongora is KGUN 9's Westside reporter.. Vanessa fell in love with storytelling by growing up in sports. She was fascinated by how sports reporters go beyond the x's & o's to tell players' stories, and how sports bring people together, inspiring Vanessa to provide the same impact as a journalist. Share your story ideas and important issues with Vanessa by emailing vanessa.gongora@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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