THE NAMES BEHIND THE NUMBERS: SYDNEY GATHERS FOR HOMELESS PERSONS' MEMORIAL SERVICE
PAYCE Foundation
Key Facts:- Sydney's annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Service took place on the Winter Solstice (21 June) in Martin Place, bringing together people with lived experience, frontline organisations, faith leaders, and the wider community to honour those who have died whilst experiencing homelessness.
- The service was held against the backdrop of renewed public attention following the death of Bikram Lama, a 32-year-old Nepali international student whose body lay unnoticed in Hyde Park for six days in December, highlighting how non-residents are effectively excluded from housing, healthcare, and income support.
- According to the most recent census data, more than 122,000 Australians experienced homelessness, with specialist homelessness services supporting over 273,000 people in 2023–24.
- Experts warn that rough sleeping can reduce life expectancy by around 30 years, and that the absence of consistent national data on deaths among homeless people makes the scale of the crisis harder to address.
- For many people who die whilst experiencing homelessness, the memorial service may be the only public acknowledgement of their lives, with organisers stressing it also serves as a reminder of the work still needed to reduce rough sleeping.
MEDIA RELEASE - 21 June 2026
Homelessness is often measured in numbers. But on the Winter Solstice, and the longest night of the year, Sydney will gather to remember the names behind the numbers.
The annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service comes at a time when renewed attention has been drawn to those sleeping rough, following the death of Bikram Lama, a homeless Nepali man, earlier this year. His story highlighted a difficult truth: people experiencing homelessness can be highly visible yet still go unseen.
of the annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Service, Dominic Sullivan said the circumstances surrounding Mr Lama’s death have brought attention to a reality long understood by workers in frontline services.
“Every year, Australians die while experiencing homelessness, many without family, funerals or any acknowledgement,” Mr Sullivan said.
“Most will die alone and unmourned, and this is particularly the case for non-residents unable to access housing, services and support.”
Erin Longbottom, National Director for Homelessness at St Vincent’s, said Bikram Lama’s death was a heartbreaking example of what happens when people fall through the cracks and become invisible in our community.
“Bikram Lama was an international student who came to Sydney with hope – for study and for a future,” said Erin.
“Sadly, Bikram became homeless, and in December last year his body was found in Sydney’s Hyde Park. He was just 32 and his body went unnoticed for six days. In that time tens of thousands of commuters and Christmas shoppers walked past him.
“As a non-resident, Bikram was effectively locked out of housing, healthcare, and income support, because the system wasn’t designed to support him. No one should die on our streets because of their visa status,” said Erin.
According to the last census data, more than 122,000 Australians experienced homelessness. Specialist homelessness services also report supporting more than 273,000 people in 2023-24.
Katie Feeney, General Manager Systems Change & Executive Director of NSW at the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, said the lack of consistent national data on deaths among people experiencing homelessness means too many lives are hidden from public view.
“When we fail to count the deaths of people experiencing homelessness, we fail to see the full scale of the crisis. International evidence shows rough sleeping can reduce life expectancy by around 30 years, and that many deaths are linked to conditions that could have been prevented or treated. Without consistent data, this already vulnerable group is made even more invisible - and that makes it harder to deliver the housing, healthcare and support needed to save lives.”
But behind every statistic is a person, and the annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service has sought to ensure they are recognised, and their lives celebrated.
Held on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, the Martin Place gathering brings together people with lived experience, frontline organisations, faith leaders and members of the wider community to honour those who have died while sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.
The memorial service is supported by community organisations and charities, including Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, the PAYCE Foundation, St Vincent de Paul Society, the Sydney Street Choir and Honeybees Choir and the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Justice and Peace Office.
Mr Sullivan said the service was an important opportunity for the community to come together to pause and reflect. “For many people who die while experiencing homelessness, this may be the only public memorial held in their honour,” Mr Sullivan said.
“It is also a reminder of the work that remains to ensure fewer people find themselves sleeping rough.”
Members of the public are invited to attend the Homeless Persons' Memorial Service, which will be held in Martin Place at 6pm on Sunday June 21.
Contact details:
Dominic Sullivan: 0417 255 388
Paul Andrews, St Vincents National Head of Media: 0409 665 495