On December 20-21st, 2025, communities will gather nationwide on National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, which takes place annually on the longest night of the year. The purpose of this powerful event is to remember those who have passed away while unhoused and to raise awareness about the dire toll that homelessness takes on our neighbors.
This weekend, Miriam’s Kitchen will join our partners at the https://pffcdc.org/ to mourn and honor our neighbors who died without the dignity of a home over the past year with their 13th Annual Memorial and Vigil.
Our Chief Advocacy Officer, Lara Pukatch shares, “Every year we gather to mourn dozens of lives lost to homelessness. The Vigil is a stark reminder that, tragically, homelessness shortens the lives of our neighbors and takes a dangerous toll on health and well-being. It is also a call to action, to remind our community members and policy makers that housing saves lives.”
Data shows that people experiencing homelessness have a significantly reduced life expectancy and much higher mortality rates. Specifically, research from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that non-elderly individuals experiencing homelessness have 3.5 times the mortality risk of those that are housed. A 40-year old person experiencing homelessness has a mortality risk of someone who is 20 years their senior. Without housing, people are exposed to dangerous weather conditions, are vulnerable to violence, and struggle to manage their health conditions.
Rachelle Ellison, a member of the Miriam’s Kitchen Guest Advisory Board, The Way Home Campaign Steering Committee, and the Co-Director of PFFC reminds us:
“These are human beings that are dying in the streets without homes. This could be your mother, sister, daughter, brother, or son.”
Each preventable loss of life underscores what we already know to be true: housing saves lives. When we reduce arbitrary and bureaucratic barriers to housing, we more quickly provide a safe space for them to address any other challenges they’re facing. What’s more, we know what programs resolve homelessness and provide the best chance of both long-term stability and positive health outcomes. For example, Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) using the Housing First approach, is one such proven solution for people who have experienced chronic homeless.
In DC, we’re doing what we can to navigate a year in which the mayor and DC Council funded no new PSH vouchers for single adults and our unsheltered neighbors face increased threats while living on the streets . The annual memorial and vigil reminds us what’s at stake when those political decisions are made. It reminds us of the actual human cost.
You’re invited to join Miriam’s Kitchen in supporting the People of Fairness Coalition and to remember and honor community members who died without the dignity of a home in 2025.
We encourage you to join us for PFFC’s 13th Annual events:
Friday, December 19th 1:00-3:00pm
Budget Advocacy Day, The Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Saturday, December 20th 4:00-5:15pm
Opening Service and Procession, Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Ave NW
Sunday, December 21st 1:00pm
Memorial, Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Ave NW
To learn more about PFFC’s outreach and advocacy efforts and to support their work, please visit pffcdc.org.
