(Indigent as defined by dictionary.com, “lacking food, clothing,
and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished.)
As
we approach December, the weather becomes colder. This means that many indigent people without adequate
shelter and lodging will face sever hardships, some even death.
The
most common causes of indigent deaths are due to poor health or exposure to the
elements, especially in the winter.
Other causes include disease, drugs or alcohol, and violence.
What
happens when a person who is considered to be indigent dies without the
where-with-all to plan or pay for a funeral? It depends on where they die. Usually the county, town, or
township where they have died will handle the details.
 |
| Financial Forms |
|
Qualifications
for indigent burials vary, again, depending on where the death occurred. Most counties or states will require
that proof of financial hardship be provided, along with other documentation
such as bank statements, pay stubs, motor vehicle, and real estate
records.
If
the indigent person is homeless, the coroner’s office, or a local hospital may
conduct a search to try and locate family. Since the homeless usually carry
everything they own with them, many times a social worker’s name, or that of a
family member or friend may be found among their possessions.
Other
forms pertaining to any government assistance, Veteran’s benefits, or Social
Security may help to identify the deceased and locate relatives. If there are no leads, an investigation
may research local missing persons to see if there is a match with the
deceased.
 |
| Cemetery Backhoe |
 |
| Mass Burials at Potters Field |
When
the indigent die in the city, there may be one day of each week that is
designated for these burials. The
deceased will all be taken at the same time to the local cemetery’s Potter’s
Field where the graves are dug and a backhoe waits to fill them in.
But
there are places in this country where they are attempting to bury their
homeless with some remaining dignity.
 |
| Louisville, Kentucky |
One
such area is in Louisville, Kentucky.
Students at Louisville Catholic schools, as well as the University of
Louisville and Bellarmine University, are working with the Jefferson County’s
Coroner’s office to help provide burial services for the indigent. Students attend the graveside services,
and some also volunteer to act as pallbearers.
The
Jefferson County Coroner’s Office is the sponsor of a program that provides
permanent markers for the indigent as a way to “acknowledge their time on
earth.” The program, known as “Be a Memory Maker,” raises money to purchase grave markers for the
indigent, mentally ill, disabled, or disenfranchised who die in the
community. A grave marker costs
around $300. To find out more
about the program, visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Coroner/SpecialPrograms.htm
 |
| Jefferson County Courthouse |
If
you would like to donate to the Be a Memory Maker program for the holidays, you can make your check
payable, in any amount, to Be a Memory Maker and mail to:
Be
A Memory Maker
Jefferson
County Coroner’s Office
810
Barret Ave., 7th floor
County
Coroner’s Office
Louisville,
KY 40204
 |
| HFBA Burial |
In
New York, the Hebrew Free Burial Association makes arrangements for indigent
and impoverished Jews in New York City to receive prompt, dignified funerals
and burials. The HFBA began in the
1880’s and is the largest free burial society outside of Israel. They have provided over 60,000 burials
since 1888. The HFBA owns two cemeteries on Staten Island: Mount Richmond
Cemetery and Silver Lake Cemetery.
As many as 300 people receive free burials each year in consecrated
Jewish earth.
 |
| HFBA Leave Your Mark Sponsers |
 |
| HFBA Grave Markers |
The
HFBA also has a program, Leave Your Mark, which places simple permanent markets at unmarked graves in Mount
Richmond Cemetery. A grave marker costs $150.
To learn more about the HFBA and the Leave Your Mark program, visit http://www.hebrewfreeburial.org/about_HFBA.html
For
those who were lonely, and alone, at the time of death, these small acts of
compassion allow some dignity and respect to be paid to their memory.
~
Joy
(Indigent as defined by dictionary.com, “lacking food, clothing,
and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished.)
As
we approach December, the weather becomes colder. This means that many indigent people without adequate
shelter and lodging will face sever hardships, some even death. 
The
most common causes of indigent deaths are due to poor health or exposure to the
elements, especially in the winter.
Other causes include disease, drugs or alcohol, and violence.
If
the indigent person is homeless, the coroner’s office, or a local hospital may
conduct a search to try and locate family. Since the homeless usually carry
everything they own with them, many times a social worker’s name, or that of a
family member or friend may be found among their possessions. 
Other
forms pertaining to any government assistance, Veteran’s benefits, or Social
Security may help to identify the deceased and locate relatives. If there are no leads, an investigation
may research local missing persons to see if there is a match with the
deceased.
Depending
on where the person dies, an indigent may be transferred to a medical school
for research or dissection education, cremated, or given a basic burial in the
local Potter’s Field. 
In
New York, the Hebrew Free Burial Association makes arrangements for indigent
and impoverished Jews in New York City to receive prompt, dignified funerals
and burials. The HFBA began in the
1880’s and is the largest free burial society outside of Israel. They have provided over 60,000 burials
since 1888. The HFBA owns two cemeteries on Staten Island: Mount Richmond
Cemetery and Silver Lake Cemetery.
As many as 300 people receive free burials each year in consecrated
Jewish earth. 
For
those who were lonely, and alone, at the time of death, these small acts of
compassion allow some dignity and respect to be paid to their memory.
