Key West Community to Honor Unhoused Lost in 2025 on Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day

Key West, FL  — On Friday, December 19th at 3 PM, the Key West community will gather in remembrance for Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, an annual observance honoring individuals in Monroe County who died while experiencing homelessness this year.
 
Held each December in recognition of the winter solstice—the longest night of the year—the memorial offers a moment of collective reflection on the lives lost and a renewed call to action around housing access, health equity, and community care in the Florida Keys.
 
This year’s service will once again take place at the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition (FKOC) vault at the Key West Cemetery, where community members, advocates, service providers, and loved ones will come together to pay tribute. The ceremony will include the reading of the names of those who died without stable housing in 2025.
 
Event Details: 

• What: Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day
• When: Friday, December 19, 2025, at 3 PM
• Where: FKOC Key West Cemetery vault (enter at the Main Gate near the Sexton’s office; ushers will guide attendees)
• Rain Location: Peace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2610 Flagler Avenue

 
“As a community, we hold space each year to honor our neighbors who struggled without the protection of a home,” said Carolyn Woodhead of FKOC/AH Monroe Housing and Supportive Services. “Their lives mattered deeply. This memorial reminds us that every person deserves safety, dignity, compassionate care, and a place to call home.” 
 
This year’s observance centers on the shared belief that housing, healthcare, and safety are fundamental human rights. Local agencies encourage residents across the Keys to stand together in remembrance and solidarity, and to recommit to supporting efforts that prevent and end homelessness.
 
For more information, contact Carolyn Woodhead or visit fkoc.org.