Days before he was to move into apartment, Indy man dies alone, under a bridge

On the first day of 2016, Wes Cunningham died alone under a bridge in Downtown Indianapolis.

This was a man who had friends all over the city, yet he died out in the bitter cold protected only by a cardboard box and some blankets. The low temperature in Indianapolis on Jan. 1 was 24. A neighbor — another homeless man — found him that day near Pine and Georgia streets, dead of apparent natural causes.

No one's to blame, of course. Cunningham, who would have turned 60 on Friday, had plenty of people who looked out for him ever since he came to Indianapolis by way of Cicero 10 years ago.

People like Joe Holman, director of innovation at Eli Lilly and Co., and Kathy Albright, director of Meet Me Under the Bridge, a Christian outreach mission that works with the homeless.

"He was such a giving soul," Albright said, choking back tears. "He gave everything he had to anyone who needed it. He will forever be missed."

Holman, a volunteer with Meet Me Under the Bridge, had known Cunningham for about six years. They often got together on Sundays, and Holman sometimes visited Cunningham's camp after work. "I was with him the week before he died; we sat and talked under the bridge. He was excited because he was going to get his apartment."

Cunningham was just six days away from moving into a new apartment on Pennsylvania Street, thanks in part to another friend, Melissa Burgess, outreach worker for Horizon House, a day shelter on the Near Eastside.

Burgess and her team at Horizon House had worked with Cunningham for years, as had staff and volunteers at Wheeler Mission and the Salvation Army. The former cabinet maker had family in Florida, but alcohol and other issues had weakened those relationships. A severe ankle injury led to amputation of his left leg below the knee a few years ago, so Cunningham used a wheelchair to get around. But he got around. He was a familiar sight on the streets of Indy.

If you knew him, you had to stop and talk to him. And if you didn't know him, well, it was your loss, his friends say.

"He felt safe here"

"Wes didn't know a stranger," said Teresa Wessel, executive director of Horizon House, 1033 E. Washington St. He was a frequent visitor at the day shelter, where he could get a shower, a bite to eat, maybe an extra coat or a blanket. He always had a kind word, or more likely, a funny story to share with staff and other homeless neighbors.

Like many in the homeless population, Cunningham felt safer staying on his own rather than sleeping in a shelter. He liked his space and the freedom to come and go when he wanted. He lived for a time in a camp under the Davidson Street bridge just east of Downtown, then moved to the Pine Street encampment across the street. He lived for about a year in an abandoned house nearby.

He stayed in a studio apartment for a few months, but his addictions and health problems eventually derailed that placement. Still, he never strayed too far from his friends at Horizon House.

"He adored this place and felt safe here," Burgess said.

About 100 of Cunningham's friends came to Horizon House last week to remember him and four other homeless people who have died in Indianapolis just since Jan. 1. Two of those people are believed to have died alone and another died in a hospital, Wessel said. No details of their deaths have been released by the coroner, but all died of natural causes, she said.

The memorial service, led by the Rev. Rob Wilkes, pastor of West Park Christian Church, attracted outreach workers, staff, volunteers, City-County Council members, a deputy mayor and police officers. But the biggest group represented were "neighbors," homeless individuals who came to remember their friend.

"This service today will honor Wes and be a reminder to each of us that everyone's life is unique and important," Wessel said.

Deputy Mayor David Hampton, senior pastor at Light of the World Christian Church, told the group that the city's homeless are a priority for new Mayor Joe Hogsett.

"We're headed for a rough winter, and we want to see everyone who needs a place to stay and anyone who needs emergency housing get it. We don't want to see anyone in the cold."

Wes loved to read

Artist Stuart Hyatt got to know Cunningham last summer while creating a mini library at Horizon House. It's part of the Public Collection, an art and literacy project consisting of artist-designed book-share stations.

Cunningham would come by most every day, helping in any way he could, keeping watch on the tools being used for the project as it was under construction in the parking lot.

"He liked to say he was our security guard," Hyatt said. "But he also gave us a lot of advice, and about half of it was good advice. I learned that a sense of humor can get you through the day."

The book-share project was close to Cunningham's heart because he loved to read. That's what Holman remembered about him. "He didn't ask for much, but he always wanted something new to read."

Those are the kinds of things Wessel wants the public to know about the homeless population.

"There's still this myth out there that's it's all uneducated individuals or that they've done it to themselves. Homelessness can affect all walks of life. What we're trying to do is humanize it."

Burgess, who has friends throughout the homeless community, won't soon forget Wes Cunningham.

"He was one of the sweetest men on the planet. He was one of the most resilient people I knew, overcoming so many obstacles. No matter what kind of day I was having, Wes could always put a smile on my face. I will miss him dearly."

Call Star reporter Maureen Gilmer at (317) 991-2231. Follow her on Twitter: @MaureenCGilmer or email maureen.gilmer@indystar.com.

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Learn more

Horizon House: www.horizonhouse.cc.

Wheeler Mission: wheelermission.org

Salvation Army: salvationarmyindiana.org