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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 22

                              Multi-Faith Vigil in Reno Honors

                      93 Homeless Individuals Who Died in

                                          Washoe County in 2025

                      Faith leaders and residents gather at City Plaza for candlelight service and prayers,

                                                  calling for action to prevent further deaths

            OUR BUREAU                                                              Candlelight Vigil for Homeless held on February 10
            RENO, Nev.
                                                             “In Washoe County alone, 93 homeless people  of remembrance for individuals who often lived —
                 aith leaders from diverse religious traditions  died in 2025, which is a sharp increase from last year.  and died — in invisibility. Many attendees stood in
                 joined community members at Reno City Pla-  It is intolerable for caring citizens of our county,”  silence as the names were read, some holding can-
            Fza on February 10 for a candlelight vigil and  Durante said. “There are too many people who fall  dles, others bowing their heads in prayer.
            multi-faith prayer service honoring the 93 homeless  through the cracks in the system. It is our moral re-  Area faith leaders said the event was not intend-
            individuals who died in Washoe County in 2025.  sponsibility to care for people in need. Each person  ed as a political statement but as a moral appeal to
                The solemn gathering, held near the iconic BE-  is sacred and all faith traditions agree on the dignity  conscience. “If we did not remember them, who else
            LIEVE sign, brought together clergy and residents  of human beings.”                       would?” one participant said, reflecting the tone of
            in an interfaith show of remembrance and solidarity.   Religious  leaders  representing  multiple  faiths  the evening. The service was open to the public, and
            Participants lit candles as the names of those who  offered  prayers  and  reflections  in  their  respective  residents from across Reno attended to pay their re-
            died while experiencing homelessness were read  traditions, emphasizing compassion, human dignity  spects and express solidarity with neighbors who died
            aloud — many of them victims of exposure to harsh  and collective responsibility. The interfaith format,  without stable housing. Organizers framed the gath-
            weather and lack of safe shelter.            organizers said, reflects a shared moral commitment  ering as both an expression of love for one’s neighbor
                The 2025 death toll marks a sharp rise from  across religious lines to protect vulnerable members  and a call to acknowledge those who were neglected
            77 homeless deaths recorded in Washoe County in  of the community.                         and left this world without safe and warm shelter.
            2024, underscoring what organizers described as a   Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who has partici-  The event was sponsored by the Life, Peace and
            growing humanitarian crisis in the region.   pated in previous vigils, stressed the universal value  Justice Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese
                The vigil, now in its fifth year, was organized by  of human life and the need for coordinated solutions.  of Reno, the Nevada Interfaith Association and the
            a coalition of local faith leaders who say they intend   “Every life holds value. Human beings dying  Good Neighbors Warming Center.
            to  continue  holding  the  annual  service  as  long  as  in our midst because of the lack of basic necessities   As candles flickered against the early evening
            preventable deaths among the unhoused persist.  should not be acceptable to us as a community,”  sky, faith leaders said they hoped the vigil would not
                Father Chuck Durante, Rector of Saint Thomas  Zed said. “Coordinated efforts are needed to pro-  only honor the dead but also inspire renewed com-
            Aquinas Catholic Cathedral and coordinator of the  tect lives; and saving lives should be the highest pri-  munity commitment to addressing homelessness in
            vigil, said the increase in deaths should serve as a  ority of various agendas.”           Washoe County — so that future gatherings might
            wake-up call for the community.                  The vigil was described by organizers as an act  mark progress rather than rising numbers.

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