DuPage County Board members voted to designate December 21st as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Service providers present at the meeting where the proclamation was read included:
Carol Simler, President & CEO, DuPagePads
Karen Ayala, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department
Amy Palumbo, Director of Community Services, Catholic Charities
Lisa Horne, Director of Safer Living, Family Shelter Services
Christine Lewis, Executive Director, Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Harley Jones, CEO, 360 Youth Services
Mary Keating, Director of DuPage County Community Services, Leader of DuPage County Continuum of Care
DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin issued the proclamation, recognizing that December 21st marks the first day of winter and the longest night of the year.
Carol Simler stated “In this season of generosity and sharing, let us call to mind our DuPage County citizens who are less prosperous, living in poverty, and without homes; particularly during these winter months that pose extreme hardships and challenges. Homelessness isn’t just our problem, homelessness is a community problem and it is everyone’s problem.”
For the full proclamation, click here
For Carol Simler’s address to the County Board, click here