What is Memorial Day?
The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council encourage communities to host public events on or near December 21 to remember their neighbors who have died homeless in the past year.
National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day takes place each year on the longest night of the year, the winter solstice (usually December 21st). The first Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day was commemorated in 1990. While we remember those we have lost this year, we cannot let this be the start of another year of growing homelessness.
How to Get Involved
Each year, hundreds of communities come together on or around December 21 to honor those who have died while experiencing homelessness. If you’d like to organize an event in your community, our comprehensive Organizing Manual can guide you through the process.
Anyone can take the lead—advocates, service providers, individuals or families with lived experience, religious leaders, city officials, students, and concerned citizens alike. This year, consider hosting either a virtual memorial or an in-person event that follows proper safety measures.
Here’s how your community can participate and pay tribute:
- Candlelight or Silent March
- Vigil
- Graveside Service
- Play or Performance
- Special Religious Service
- Public Policy Advocacy Event
Additional Steps to Consider:
- Compile a List of Names: Determine how many people experiencing homelessness passed away in your community this year. Collaborate with homeless individuals, service providers, and officials to gather as accurate a list as possible.
- Secure a Proclamation: Request a proclamation from your local or state government to recognize the event officially. Sample proclamations are included in our manual.
- Share Your Plans: Inform us of your event details in advance so we can help amplify awareness by notifying national media.
- Engage Online: Use hashtags like #HomelessMemorial and #HPMD to share your event on social media. After the event, update us with how it went, the names read, attendance numbers, and any media coverage received.
With over 30 years of experience sponsoring these events, we’re here to support you. Let us know how we can help make your memorial impactful and meaningful.
Report names and events
Please use the form below to share the names of those lost while experiencing homelessness in your community, and also the details of your events.
Consideration of Privacy Rights and HIPAA Compliance
In sharing information about unhoused individuals who have passed away, it is essential to respect their privacy rights and the confidentiality of any sensitive information. Under HIPAA and other privacy laws, certain details—such as medical information or personal identifiers—should only be disclosed by authorized individuals or entities.
Before publicly sharing the name or other identifying information of any individual who has passed, particularly those who are unhoused, it is critical to:
- Ensure Consent: Obtain consent from authorized parties, such as family members, legal representatives, or individuals who have the right to disclose personal information.
- Minimize Harm: Recognize that revealing sensitive information may lead to potential harm to surviving family members or the community.
- HIPAA Compliance: If the person’s death is connected to healthcare or medical conditions, HIPAA restrictions regarding the sharing of health-related information must be followed. This means not disclosing confidential medical details without the appropriate permissions.
- Respect Dignity and Humanity: Always approach the dissemination of such information with compassion, prioritizing respect for the deceased and their family members.
By adhering to these principles, we ensure that the rights and dignity of unhoused individuals, as well as the privacy of their families, are protected in accordance with applicable laws.
