‘Incredible hearts’

COEUR d’ALENE — On the darkest night of the year, Chris Green shared the story of a man who changed his perspective during his first week working with the homeless in Coeur d’Alene, some 15 years ago.

He was called Dennis. The 72-year-old man had been homeless for about 40 years, during which he traveled the country, staying at different shelters. 

“He talked about kind people he met all over the country, flowing with the seasons,” said Green, Street Medicine Clinic Director for Heritage Health. “His stories and his life were so amazing.” 

At the time, Green didn’t press Dennis for details about his family, from whom he was estranged. He’d thought there would be more time for that in the future. But at the end of the week, Green arrived at the shelter and found Dennis dead on the front steps. He had died alone. 

“I remember his name and I carry it with me to this day,” Green said. “I feel a responsibility. Maybe there was something I could have noticed.” 

Green shared his memories of Dennis last week, during a ceremony to commemorate National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, which occurs annually on the winter solstice. Community members joined him on the North Idaho College campus to honor and remember the lives of their neighbors who died homeless in the past year. 

Green said 200 people have died homeless in Spokane this year, some of whom were also part of the community in Coeur d’Alene. 

People who are chronically homeless have significantly decreased life expectancies compared to their housed counterparts, Green said. He pointed to a 2023 University of Chicago study which found that non-elderly people experiencing homelessness have 3.5 times higher mortality than those who are housed. 

“There’s a lot of debate about homelessness and people who are living on the street and what they deserve,” Green said. “These are our neighbors. These are our friends. These are our family. That could be me.” 

Though the loss of Dennis will always remain with Green, he said he’s strengthened by the work he and others do in this community to support and give years of life to their homeless clients. 

He said it wouldn’t be possible without partnerships with organizations like St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, which helps thousands of people annually with shelter, clothing, food and other basic necessities. 

Scott Ferguson, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, said the staff aims to meet people where they are. 

“We have the opportunity to see people as themselves and not as the label they walk in with,” he said. 

In conversations about homelessness, advocates said, it’s important not to lose sight of the humanity of homeless people. 

“When you sit down and talk to the people we work with, you find these incredible hearts,” said Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker. 

Baker said he believes North Idaho truly cares about people, including the homeless population. 

“As we honor the lives of people lost this year and look to next year, our request to the community is to look in each other’s eyes,” he said. “We need to find that space to care for humanity.”