JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Changing Homelessness and the City Rescue Mission remembered the lives of those experiencing homelessness who died in 2023 at a special annual memorial service on Thursday.
The memorial at the City Rescue Mission, at 426 McDuff Ave., was free and open to the public.
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Elected officials, family members, citizens, and faith, community and business leaders attended.
Program speakers included:
- Dawn Gilman, Chief Executive Officer, Changing Homelessness
- Paul Stasi, Executive Director, City Rescue Mission
- Pastor Kim McKissick, The Bethel Church
- Pastor Christopher McKee, First Baptist Church of Oakland
- Matt Hartley, Director of Interfaith Programs, OneJax
“Memorials like ours are held annually across the country on the winter solstice and longest night of the year to remember those we have lost while experiencing homelessness,” said Dawn Gilman, CEO for Changing Homelessness. “Thursday marks the Northeast Florida community gathering to honor the lives of people who passed away in 2023. They were our neighbors, our friends and our family members. We celebrate them with messages of love, peace and hope for a future where homelessness no longer exists
Changing Homelessness, commemorating its 50th anniversary in 2024, leads, advocates and manages the effort for services in support of ending homelessness in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties with over 40 member agencies and partners forming the Continuum of Care (CoC).