Melvin Gries, a homeless man who was featured in the Jan. 15 issue of the Daily, died Dec. 17.

(The story was written before winter break and appeared in the Daily after Gries’ death.)

Gries, who had been battling depression, apparently committed suicide.

Those who knew Gries said constant heartbreak had started to wear on his emotional state, particularly since the death of his former fianc‚e.

“He was extremely depressed about his relationship with his girlfriend,” said Vic Moss, social worker at the Emergency Residence Project, 225 S. Kellogg. “Maybe it was the sign of … suicide; otherwise, I didn’t expect he would do it.”

As Gries had told the Daily, his depression turned serious after his fianc‚e died less than a month before their wedding date. He had been hospitalized several times prior to his death.

Moss said Gries had been dealing with problems for many years, and living on the streets worsened his predicaments.

He added that Gries had turned into a friend over time.

“He was a nice young man, and we talked a lot when we met,” Moss said. “The last time I saw him was the morning before he died.”

Moss said conversation with homeless individuals at the shelter home is not common because of privacy concerns.

He said he reaches out only to those who want to talk.

Gries had told the Daily he had lost contact with family many years ago, after a difficult childhood. He said because of the distance, contacting relatives had become difficult.

On his own by age 17, Gries became homeless off and on and lived under a bridge in Des Moines when he was 19.

After losing a job in Mason City, he returned to Ames and took shelter at the Emergency Residence Project home.

Moss’ statistics show that there have been three other homeless deaths in Ames.