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Brevard County designates Dec. 21 as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day; coalition urges continued action
Summary
The Brevard County commission unanimously adopted a resolution designating Dec. 21, 2025, as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day. Brevard Homeless Coalition leaders described recent data and called for continued local collaboration to reduce deaths among people experiencing homelessness.
The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution designating Dec. 21, 2025, as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, a day the board said will commemorate residents who have died while unsheltered or inadequately housed.
Amber Carroll, executive director of the Brevard Homeless Coalition, and James Smith, the coalition's coordinated entry manager, addressed the board in support of the resolution. Carroll identified the coalition as the lead agency for the county's Continuum of Care. Smith said the coalition's 2025 point-in-time count showed gains but underscored ongoing risk: "This year, we lost 78 of our neighbors, men and women who died without a safe place to sleep," he said. He added that unsheltered homelessness fell 5% in the most recent count and chronic homelessness declined 11%.
Why it matters: Coalition leaders told commissioners the statistics represent community members, not just numbers, and said the holiday season is an opportunity for renewed focus on preventing deaths and connecting people to housing and services. Smith said the coalition conducts outreach including jail surveys and noted "57 percent of individuals entering the jail reported they were homeless at the time of booking," a figure the coalition raised as evidence of intersections between homelessness and the justice system.
What the board did: After the presentation and brief discussion, a commissioner moved and a second was made; the commission voted "aye" and the chair called the vote unanimous. The resolution formally recognizes Dec. 21 as National Homeless Persons Memorial Day and acknowledges the work of the Brevard County Continuum of Care and community partners.
Next steps: Coalition leaders invited commissioners and residents to memorial events scheduled during the week of Dec. 21 and requested continued county support for programs aimed at preventing deaths among people experiencing homelessness.
Sources: Remarks delivered to the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners by Amber Carroll, executive director, Brevard Homeless Coalition, and James Smith, coordinated entry manager (public presentation).
