This tradition is rooted in remembrance and in the commitment to lasting change.
On December 18th, we invite you to join us from wherever you are for a livestream of this year’s Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day ceremony. This annual day of remembrance brings communities together to honor the lives of people who died while experiencing homelessness over the past year. Register here to attend the virtual ceremony.
Memorial Event Livestream
Date: Thursday, December 18th, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. MST / 1 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. EST
A full list of speakers for the event will be shared during the livestream.
The National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the National Consumer Advisory Board encourage communities across the country to mark Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day on or around the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. This tradition is rooted in remembrance and in the commitment to lasting change. As night stretches across the nation, we pause to honor neighbors, friends, and loved ones who lost their lives without the basic security of a home.
Each year, this ceremony serves as a moment to acknowledge the injustice of lives cut short, to reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the dignity of every person, and to renew our dedication to a future where housing is guaranteed to all. Communities across the country join in this observance to make clear that no one should die for lack of housing. You can learn more about the significance of this day through our HPMD Advocacy Agenda.
If you would like to host a local event, there are many ways communities take part, including candlelight gatherings, readings of names, spiritual services, marches, and public education efforts. Resources for planning an event, last year’s national livestream, and information on local activities and mortality data are available here.
If you wish to honor someone who has died while experiencing homelessness in your community, you may submit their name for inclusion in our “in memoriam” video during the livestream ceremony. You can share a name by clicking here.
As the longest night of the year approaches, we hope you will join us in remembrance and reflection. Together, we carry forward the work of ensuring that no life is lived or lost without the dignity of a safe and stable home.
