Activism

The Longest Night 2025

3 months ago

Thanks to all who joined our Longest Night on December 21 at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa as we read the names of those who passed in 2025 on the streets of Orange County, and witnessed scattered personal stories about some of those who died without fixed abode. I am grateful to have been a part of such a powerful assembly of truth-tellers. Below, a picture of Wade Harper taken days before his passing, who slipped through our fingers on Dec 12 and about whom I spoke on this longest night. -John Underwood-

A photo of Wade Harper, a deceased unhoused man, taken days before his passing
This photo I took from a video interview with recently deceased unhoused man Wade Harper in front of the so called permanent supportive housing complex he was suddenly thrown out without any form of eviction process, a face forever asking the question “why after all these years am I back out on the street?”

Watch the unedited Longest Night event YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/ApiV_kkHtCU

The list of all of those we have lost, which we use during our Longest Night efforts, is compiled each year by Father Dennis Kriz of Saint Philip Benizi Parish. We thank him for his thoughtful work.

You can read the list here:

Kriz: 2025 Longest Night Memorial – The Names of the People Who Died Without Fixed Abode (Homeless) in OC Between Dec 1, 2024 and Nov 30, 2025

About the author

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John Underwood

John Underwood is a highly acclaimed community television producer and seasoned professional journalist. With a remarkable career spanning over 13 years, John honed his reporting skills at National Public Radio in Los Angeles. Locally, he made significant contributions as a reporter for OC Weekly and the Orange County Register.

When he's not diligently documenting the struggles of the homeless population throughout Orange County, John serves as the Production Coordinator for Los Alamitos Community Television. There, he passionately produces "Backstory," an investigative talk show that fearlessly addresses the most contentious issues of the day. His current documentary series, "No Fixed Abode," is a powerful exploration that amplifies the voices of Orange County's homeless community. John's dedication to storytelling and advocacy has earned him recognition as an award-winning professional in the field.

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