Hundreds of Maine area residents gathered in Monument Square Monday night for the annual Homeless Person's Memorial Vigil to remember 35 people who died in the greater Portland area over the past two years, according to WMTW.com.

The Portland television news station reported marchers walked from Preble Street shelter to Monument Square where the names of the homeless people who died were read aloud. The vigil was also held on the first official day of winter and three days before Christmas.

Homelessness has long been a major problem in Portland and it is very common to see men and women of all ages holding signs and asking passing motorists for money, work and shelter.

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