National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day Date in the current year: December 21, 2024

Homelessness first became a national issue in the United States in 1870s due to urbanization and a wave of emigration from Europe. It sparked the development of a social movement to help the homeless and the emergence of rescue missions. The Great Depression of the 1930s caused a sharp increase in homelessness; about 2 million people in the United States ended up without stable and safe housing.

Other increases in homelessness occurred in the 1970s due to the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients and in the 1980s due to social service and housing cuts. Homelessness has been rising in major US cities over the past few years due to scarce and expensive housing. According to a 2022 study, high cost of living was the primary cause of high per capita homelessness rates in some cities rather than poverty, drug addition, or mental illnesses.

There is a lot of stigma surrounding homeless people, but the causes of homelessness are complex, and people of different backgrounds may end up homeless. The principal cause of homelessness a combination of lack of available and affordable housing and lack of sufficient-paying jobs. According to Homeless Deaths Count, at least 20 homeless people die every day in the United States; the most common causes of death are premature lethality of treatable diseases, traffic accidents, violence, and drug overdoses.

National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day has been observed every December 21 since 1990. It takes place on the first day of winter and the longest night of the year to highlight the plight of homeless people. The main goals of the observance are to honor the memory of all people who have died without a home over the past year, as well as to encourage the general public to help homeless individuals in any way they can.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is sponsored by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the National Coalition of the Homeless, the National Consumer Advisory Board, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and other organizations that strive to end homelessness. Every year, they coordinate hundreds of memorial events held across the country.

Anyone can host a Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day event in their community. Events can be organized by advocates for homeless individuals and families, charity organizations, city representatives, homeless and formerly homeless families or individuals, homeless service providers, religious leaders, students, and concerned citizens. Past events have included candlelight vigils, graveside services, performances and plays, religious services, silent marches, and more.

How can you get involved with National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day? The obvious way is to attend an event near you or organize an event of your own. Other ways to contribute include donating to a charity that helps homeless individuals and families, volunteering at a homeless shelter, and raising awareness by posting about the observance on social media.