Lester Ross was a staple in the unhoused community known for his infectious smile and ability to apologize for his sometimes unruly behavior. For two decades, Lester lived in emergency housing sites and received services from the city’s Office of Homeless Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities Services. He was connected to housing and living on his own when he contracted COVID-19 in the Fall of 2020. Unfortunately, Lester Ross transitioned and his cremains (cremated remains) were left unclaimed in the city’s morgue for months until Mike Hinson. President and Chief Operating Officer of SELF, Inc. learned of Lester’s passing.
Hinson and Mel Wells. President and Chief Executive Officer, One Day At A Time (ODAAT) spearheaded efforts to host a memorial for Lester and to bury his cremains. Lester’s Celebration of Life was held on October 20, 2021, at the Municipal Services Building. Representatives from the City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, the Philadelphia Police Department, 215 Village, Homeless Advocacy Project, Merakey, Net, the E.A.R.T.H.S., PARENT POWER, ODAAT and SELF, Inc. were on hand to provide resources and services while homeless service providers and people experiencing homelessness paid their final respects to one of their own.
The New Orleans-style celebration featured Snacktime Second Line Band, resources and information for people experiencing homelessness, light refreshments and NOLA style decorations and giveaways.
During the course of learning about Lester’s passing, it was also learned that the unclaimed cremains of at least twenty-two other formerly homeless individuals’ were in the city morgue awaiting burial. Mike Hinson decided at that point that a burial fund in Lester’s honor should be started to assist with the dignified burial of formerly homeless individuals. This idea was supported and championed by Roberta Cancellier, Deputy Director, Office of Homeless Services and Joyce Sacco, Director of Homeless Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbilities.
Dr. Jacqueline Bailey-Davis, Staff Inspector for the Philadelphia Police Department and Founder of 215 Village, SELF Board Member David Fair, and Mike Hinson made initial commitments and/or donations to the fund.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Lester Ross Homeless Memorial Fund is to assist with the burial cost of formerly homeless Philadelphians whose cremains have gone unclaimed and left in the Philadelphia City Medical Examiner’s Office. To the extent possible, burial assistance will be aligned with the religious and cultural customs of the deceased.
MANAGEMENT
The Fund is housed at SELF, Inc. and is managed by six Fund Advisors consisting of a representative of SELF, Inc., a representative of ODAAT, a representative of Dr. Jacqueline Bailey Davis, a representative of the City of Philadelphia, a Philadelphia based homeless service provider and a Philadelphia based community member with lived homeless experience.
The roles of the Fund Advisors are listed below.
1. Raise public and monetary support for the Fund
2. Manage the monetary assets of the Fund.
3. Meet quarterly to conduct and review the activities of the Fund
4. Review potential applicants (Cremains form the Medical Examiner’s Office) and decide what assistance will or will not be provided.
5. Provide a quarterly transparent and public accounting of Fund activities.
The Fund will works with the City of Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, the Office of Homeless Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbilities, homeless service providers and community members to identify applicants for assistance from the fund.
DONATIONS TO THE FUND
Donations to the fund can be made by sending a check or money order to SELF, Inc. or by using the SELF, Inc. donate button and denoting the donation is for the Lester Ross Homeless Memorial Fund. Inquiries can be made by sending an email or by calling (215) 496-9610. Donations are deductible to the extent allowable by law.
