DAYTON, Ohio — Each name read, each bell rung is the sound of another homeless person who died.

More than 50 people died homeless in Montgomery County within the last year.

Dayton city and county leaders came together for a virtual vigil for them.

“I think it is appropriate as we have in past years, even virtually, to recognize those in our community that a lot of times don’t get any attention paid to them,” Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said.

What You Need To Know

  • Dayton city and county leaders held a vigil for those who died homeless
  • There are more than 50 homeless who died in the county last year

  • There are nearly 5,000 in the county currently homeless

But there’s some you won’t see at the vigil.

The family members of the homeless who died.

Advocates say many times there isn’t any of that kind of support.

But Heather Wilson said they had her.

“We’re family to them most of the time,” said Wilson, Advocate at Miami Valley Housing Opportunities.

She said she knew and worked with many of the those who died.

"All we can do is rest easy knowing we can do all that we can, although we always walk away with that guilt can we do more,” Wilson said.

And she says they’ve been trying to do more, but COVID-19 shut downs and restrictions are making the problem worse.

“We are canvasing the streets in Montgomery County looking for individuals who are sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, in the woods, under bridges, abandoned houses and our numbers have definitely increased,” Wilson said.

There were close to 5,000 people reported homeless last year in Montgomery County alone.

More than 50 died while they had no where else to go.

“There’s never a dry eye when they read those names. At the end of the day these are people, they’re not just numbers,” said Wilson.

They're being remembered for the lives they lived.