GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Homeless men and women who have lost their lives were remembered in the 5th annual memorial service at Hawthorn park Sunday.

While the homeless population has been on a steady incline in Grand Junction, so has the community support.

17 churches local have stepped in to take in the overflow of transients. And the death rates reflect that. In 2008 16 people without homes lost their lives. That number dropped to two this year.

Grand Junction Police are setting up a homeless outreach team to help transients get back into the work force, set to begin in January.