Desert Palm United Church of Christ is hosting a memorial service recognizing those who have died while homeless on Saturday, Dec. 21, in honor of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.
A media release stated Maricopa County data found 732 people experiencing homelessness died in 2022 and over 750 homeless people died during 2023.
The memorial, hosted at the church at 1230 E. Guadalupe Road, will take place at 6 p.m. While it is not open to the public, the church hopes to spread awareness about the struggles faced by this vulnerable community.
Several community groups will be in attendance to remember and honor people who have died on the street, according to the release, including Tempe Community Action Agency. TCAA has several programs and services to support the homeless population and those experiencing homelessness.