Police in Syracuse, New York, discovered 55-year-old Rhea Holmes living at Oakwood Cemetery after a retired officer noticed her and alerted authorities. Holmes had been sleeping there for more than six months, spending her days volunteering at a nearby food pantry and returning to the cemetery at night. She says the cemetery was the only place she felt she owned after losing her home.
Holmes’ situation began after the sudden death of her husband in 2020, the same day the couple’s offer on their first home was accepted. Instead of buying the house, she used the down payment to purchase a cemetery plot and bench for her husband of 26 years. Over time, Holmes fell into depression, lost her job, was evicted, and chose not to move into a shelter, instead spending her nights on the bench.
Syracuse Police Officer Jamie Pastorello responded to the call and helped her find stable housing. First he paid for a hotel room, then arranged temporary housing through a local college during winter break and helped connect her with a nonprofit called A Tiny Home for Good. Now living in a tiny home, Holmes recently got a visit from Pastorello. The two friends shared some laughs and many hugs.