Each year since 1990, on the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, the National Coalition for the Homeless has sponsored a National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day to call attention to the plight of the homeless. Organized annually since 1998 by Operation Safety Net® (OSN), a program of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, the memorial service is held at the south end of Grant Street, where Grant turns onto Fort Pitt Boulevard, under the Monroeville Exit overpass. There, a wall of plaques commemorates those who may have been forgotten in life and serves as the backdrop to the annual ceremony.

While the service honors the memory of those who have passed away during the year, it also pays tribute to those who are surviving against great odds as well as recognizes volunteers who give their time and talent to understand and serve this population. The service provides an opportunity to share these life stories.