People gather Wednesday at the Center for Independent Living for a vigil to remember the 78 homeless who died this year in Clark County. Photos by Craig L. Moran. Michelle Wirsing kisses Sam Zozaya Wednesday during a memorial for homeless who have died this year. Wirsing and Zozaya were featured in a Wednesday Review-Journal story that detailed the story of their daughter, who died this year after living only 49 days.

Social service providers, politicians, religious leaders and homeless people gathered on a cold basketball court Wednesday afternoon to memorialize 78 homeless people who died this year in Clark County.

"It's a way to acknowledge that these people were here, that they matter," said Linda Lera-Randle El, director of the Straight from the Streets program. "It's a way to let the homeless people still out there know someone cares about them. There's hope, a little bit of love. I think everybody could use that right now."

Lera-Randle El organizes the annual candlelight vigil for the homeless, which was held this year at the Center for Independent Living, a shelter for homeless youths.

About 100 people stood outside, lit candles and prayed for the dead, many of whom were found alone in local alleys, behind trash bins, in storm drains or in the desert.

This year's event was dedicated to Realitie Lynn Zozaya, a 49-day-old baby who was born to homeless parents and died Nov. 14.

The recent deaths of Kendra Krummel, 43, and James R. Belanger, 57, a homeless man and woman found slain Sunday in a downtown drainage tunnel, were weighing heavily on the minds of many of those at the vigil.

"It's very dangerous out there," said Fred Gillis, executive director of the Center for Independent Living.

Six of the 78 homeless deaths this year were homicides. Five were suicides. Most of the 37 deaths that were ruled accidental were caused by drug overdoses, according to the Clark County coroner's office.

Several people at the vigil said conditions for the homeless have actually improved this year, though not enough.

"I think awareness has increased," Gillis said. "Homelessness is a hot topic right now, so there's more public pressure on politicians to do something about it. Along with that comes increased funding."

"Things are changing, but they aren't changing fast enough," Lera Randle-El said.

Clark County Assistant Manager Darryl Martin praised the coordinated outreach teams that have been working with the homeless, and said November's Stand Down for the Homeless at Cashman Center was a success.

"There's a lot of room for improvement," he said. "But you've got to remember we are still experiencing tremendous growth. Not all those moving here are moving into homes. Some have nothing."

Manuel Ward, a 66-year-old homeless man who came to Las Vegas from Spokane, Wash., a few days ago in search of relatives, raised his eyebrows when he heard about the deaths of Krummel and Belanger. He said he knows the streets are dangerous.

"That's why I've stayed awake for three days," he said.

Ward, whose worldly possessions consist of a coat, hat and a single blanket, said he was standing in line for a bed next door at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada when he heard about the vigil and decided to come by.

But, he said, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"When I go, I hope nobody cries over me," he said. "God just called me home."