BRUNSWICK -- About 35 people, holding candles and shivering in the cold night air, stood on the Brunswick Mall Thursday while David Corbett read aloud the names of nine midcoast residents who at some point in their life had been homeless and who died this year.

Some of those remembered had overcome homelessness and died of natural causes. One 19-year-old mother died from a seizure in her home, and 36-year-old Neil Hardy, mired in the depths of depression, took his own life, said Corbett, a manager at a local shelter.

Though the occasion was a somber one, homeless advocates say it is important to focus public attention on the national issue of homelessness. Cities and towns across Maine, including Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Lewiston and Portland held observances Thursday as part of the National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

The observance, which began in 1990, is held on the first day of winter -- the longest night of the year. The National Coalition for the Homeless and National Health Care for the Homeless Council promotes the event.

Seventeen people from Portland's homeless community who died in 2006 were remembered during a ceremony in Monument Square.

"A lot of homeless people experience multiple health problems, which are heightened by life on the street," said Donna Yellen, Adult Services and Advocacy Coordinator for Portland's Preble Street Resource Center, an agency that serves the city's homeless community. According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council's Web site, the average age of death for a homeless person is about 50, compared to 78 for an American who has never been homeless.

A photo essay that preceded Brunswick's candlelight vigil demonstrated that homelessness can affect any one no matter how old they are or what their educational background might be. Photographer Sarah Brayman's slide show depicted a local couple who had been married 32 years. The man, identified only as Melvin, was a Vietnam War veteran who became homeless after being diagnosed with cancer. His disability claim was eventually approved, but the process took months and forced the couple to live in one of Tedford Housing's midcoast shelters. Another woman, who holds a master's degree in microbiology, became homeless due to an addiction problem. She sought help from Tedford Housing, a non-profit organization based in Brunswick, that provides short term shelter and long range housing options to the midcoast region. Last year, Tedford served over 800 people, including 112 families.

Tedford Housing's Executive Director Don Kniseley said one of the saddest stories of the year involved Hardy, a bus driver from Brunswick. Hardy stayed at one of Tedford's shelters in November before leaving and later committing suicide, he said.

Kniseley said Hardy was driving the bus that carried Stephen A. Marshall, the Nova Scotia man who came to Maine earlier this year and killed two convicted sex offenders. Marshall killed himself on the bus as Boston police closed in.

"After that Neil just lost it," Kniseley said. "It triggered a bunch of things for him. He became severely depressed."

Kniseley said the solution to solving the problem of homelessness is to build more housing. Tedford Housing is currently building Everett Apartments in Brunswick, which will have eight efficiency units for single homeless adults.

Evergreen Woods, a family housing project, is under way in Bath and will open in July. Gilbert Place, which serves five homeless individuals, opened last year in Bath.

Kniseley said the state's plan calls for construction of 2,500 units statewide. So far, 500 have been constructed.

"Eventually, I think we can make a big impact on homelessness in Maine," he said.