Designating December 22nd as Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.

WHEREAS, The winter poses extreme hardships for inadequately housed low-income men, women and children in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The spirit of the holiday season of giving provides an opportunity for affirmation and renewal regarding the commitment to end homelessness; and

WHEREAS, A National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day is recognized on or around the first day of winter by the National Coalition for the Homeless and by more than 100 cities throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Homeless Memorial Day Committee has planned a memorial service to honor and recognize homeless people who died in our city; and

WHEREAS, In this season of generosity and sharing, citizens of the City of Brotherly Love are encouraged to commit themselves to promoting compassion and concern for all brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor and homeless; and

WHEREAS, The elimination of poverty and homelessness should be integral features of efforts to build and maintain a strong America; and

WHEREAS, In remembering those who have died homeless, the cause of ending homelessness is kept urgent, as is the city's collective commitment to preventing such deaths in the future; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby declares its commitment to promoting solutions that fundamentally break the cycle of proverty and homelessness.

FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby declares December 22nd as Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, in recognition of the people who have died on our streets or in our emergency shelter system from ailments or conditions directly related to homelessness.

End