Changing Homelessness

Monday, May 25 is Memorial Day in the United States, and it is incredibly important to remember exactly what this day represents.

The day formally and federally marks a day of reflection and observance, honoring all the servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America. Those sacrifices have guaranteed 250 years of continued life, liberty, and our ongoing pursuit of happiness.

Since our Nation's founding, over 1 million service members have died in combat and non-combat situations, including servicemembers lost in both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as well as those we lost in non-combat accidents and to su***de. It is because of these individuals' sacrifice and selflessness that our way of life persists, not just at home but around the world.

The National Moment of Remembrance occurs every Memorial Day at 3pm local time where Americans are encouraged to pause and reflect for one full minute on this individual and collective loss.

At Changing Homelessness, our Veteran Program served more than 1,200 veterans and helped house 473 veterans in 2025.

For more information on the history of Memorial Day, please see the National Cemetery Administration website. It offers a detailed evolution of how informally honoring servicemembers transitioned into a national tradition.

The Wounded Warrior Project also provides a helpful guide to mark this occasion beyond the community-based events.

Please check your local news sites and community event pages to see what's happening around your area for Memorial Day!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Housing is Hope 🧡

We’re so grateful to everyone who spent their morning with us and helped make this year’s event so special. Seeing community members, volunteers, partners, advocates, and supporters all in one room was a reminder that real change happens when people come together.

A huge congratulations to this year’s award recipients, and thank you to our incredible volunteers who continue to stand beside us in the mission to end homelessness.

We also want to give a special thank you to our sponsors, , First Horizon Bank, BVI, and community partners, Florida Blue and First Coast News, whose generosity and belief in this work helped make Housing is Hope possible. And to our panelists, Drew Schrimsher, Whitney Meyer, Pastor Joe Williams, and Tony Jenkins -- your support allows us to continue creating spaces for conversation, collaboration, and action in our community.

This is just the beginning. From volunteer opportunities and community events to advocacy efforts and special campaigns, there are so many ways to stay connected and continue making an impact with us.

Be sure to follow us here on social media, check your inbox for updates, and visit our website to stay involved.

Thank you again for being part of Housing is Hope! 🏡✨

📸: https://dreams2reality.passgallery.com/-housingishope/gallery

Happy Easter! 🐣

From the Changing Homelessness team to you, we hope everyone is having a very hoppy day with friends and family. 🧡