Denee Salisbury’s memorial sheds light on homeless mental health needs

The life of Denee Salisbury was honored at a memorial Thursday night at Sunrise Park in Palm Springs.

The 48-year-old homeless woman, who suffered from mental health issues, was found murdered in a vacant lot in Palm Springs on February 21.

The man accused of killing her, Verne Orlop Jr. was also in and out of a state mental hospital. He pleaded not guilty.

“I’m glad her life’s making a difference, it’s making it easier. It’s still hard,” said Erin Salisbury, Denee’s sister, who hopes Denee’s life makes an impact on bringing awareness to the mental health needs of the valley’s homeless population.

Denee was homeless since the 1990s and battled obsessive compulsive disorder and manic depression.

Her family says there weren’t a lot of options for Denee to get mental health treatment while on the streets.

“The only time she got help was in jail and, I’ve said it before, I felt better she was in jail,” Erin said. “She got the medication and she was doing well, then they’d just let her out and she had no help.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated 46% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

Christian Jelmberg and his organization, Street Life Project wants to change that. Jelmberg hosted the memorial to honor Denee’s life and the lives of other homeless people who died while silently suffering.

“We lose people every month. With mental health it’s really tough, for a couple of days they’ll medicate them and then they’re right back on the streets,” Jelmberg said.

Jelmberg is recruiting mental health professionals for outreach in the valley’s homeless communities. He hopes getting people the proper health services, followed by job training will help them re-enter society.

“She would have been saved, she would have been home,” Erin said.

“Not only her but the man that took her life,” said Dennie Hill, Denee’s aunt.

Denee’s life has already made an impact on at least one person in her homeless community.

Her friend, George Moyer, who attended the memorial understands Denee’s struggle with mental illness all too well.

Moyer says doctors diagnosed him with bipolar disorder 10 years ago and he’s ready to get the help he needs.

“Some peope just don’t understand how rough it is living out here. Very hard, very very hard. You wouldn’t believe,” Moyer said.