Miami Memorial Service Honors 2019 Homeless Deaths

MIAMI, FL — A memorial service and candlelight vigil was held in Miami Friday to honor the 180 homeless people throughout the United States who died in 2019, including the homeless man in Coconut Grove who was the victim of a "senseless nighttime murder" earlier this week.

"It is a stark reminder that homelessness can end in tragedy for too many people," according to the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.

The event marked National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Officials said the deaths were caused by a combination of violence, drug use and health-related issues.

“While details are still pending, the incident (in Coconut Grove) does point out the vulnerability of those who sleep on our streets, sidewalks and parks,” explained Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Chairman, Ronald L. Book. "We will now unfortunately have to add this man to our list—a horrible reality we must face as a community."

Friday's memorial service was jointly coordinated by the Homeless/Formerly Homeless Forum, Inc., Miami Homes For All and the Homeless Trust.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day coincides with the first day of winter, winter solstice and the longest night of the year.

“This memorial is a stark reminder of the humanity of all our neighbors in this community. Everyone deserves a place to call home. We must take every action possible to ensure we all have access to one,” added Miami Homes For All Executive Director, Anne Lord.

Officials said while the overall number of homeless deaths in 2019 has decreased since the previous historic high of 201 deaths, there is still much work that can be done to target chronically homeless individuals and those who have historically resisted entering the trust’s continuum of care.

The Miami event took place in front of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street.