Community members and church leaders gathered Friday night to remember the homeless who died in the past year in St. Clair County.

National memorial services to remember the homeless who died went on Friday, the first day of winter, the longest day of the year.

"We grieve this day for all those who have died," the Rev. Drew Kramer said in his opening prayer during the memorial service at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville.

Kramer, a minister at St. Paul, said the homeless in America "lead a Third World life in a first world country." He asked the two dozen people in attendance to "remember the vulnerable."

In St. Clair County, four homeless persons died this year. Their first names were read as part of the candlelight service.

They were J.R., "Hooks," Laverne and Brian. Two of the homeless died during this summer's extreme heat.

Bill Kreeb, of the Homeless Initiative of St. Clair County, said services were made available to the homeless who died.

Joe Hubbard, director of the Catholic Urban Programs in East St. Louis, explained often times homeless people will not come to shelters, but different homeless ministries in the county go out and check on them.

"We'll continue to try to help those who are homeless and broken," Hubbard said.

Hubbard said he feels progress is being made to assist the homeless in St. Clair County; the number of deaths have decreased from the 14 recorded last year.

"I think we do a tremendous job in St. Clair County," he said. "People from St. Louis come over here to tell us what to do, but they don't know about all the programs we have."

Last month, St. Louis evangelist Larry Rice urged community leaders to allow a homeless shelter to be opened in the old Downtown YMCA in Belleville.

Hubbard did note St. Clair County needs more "affordable, decent housing."

This marked the second annual homeless memorial service in St. Clair County. Kreeb hopes there won't be a need for a memorial service for homeless persons who died next year.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.