Every night, more than 2,500 people in Multnomah County are homeless.

This morning, civic and religious leaders throughout Multnomah County observed the first annual "Day of Homelessness Awareness" with a "Walk of Awareness," sponsored by local non-profit JOIN. Commissioner Fish was honored to speak at the event, which began at the Downtown Chapel Roman Catholic Parish and ended at the First Unitarian Church.

The Day of Awareness is meant to make the challenge of homelessness in our community more visible, and to engage more faith communities in the effort to address this humanitarian crisis.

"Walk of Awareness" organizers are asking the community to forgo one small splurge today and instead donate the money to a local shelter.