Event Highlights Systemic Challenges for Homelessness
‘s annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service took place on the 21st June in Martin Place, marking the Winter Solstice by honouring those who have died while experiencing homelessness.
This year’s service attracted people with lived experience, frontline organisations, faith leaders, and the wider community. It follows heightened public awareness after the death of Bikram Lama, a 32-year-old Nepali international student, whose body was found in Hyde Park last December.
Dominic Sullivan, organiser of the memorial service, highlighted the invisibility of such deaths, stating, “Every year, Australians die while experiencing homelessness, many without family, funerals or any acknowledgement.”
Impact of Bikram Lama’s Death
Bikram Lama’s death underscored the exclusion of non-residents from housing and support services. Erin Longbottom, National Director for Homelessness at St Vincent’s, described it as “a heartbreaking example of what happens when people fall through the cracks.”
According to the latest census, over 122,000 Australians experienced homelessness, with specialist services supporting more than 273,000 people in 2023-24.
Experts warn that rough sleeping can reduce life expectancy by around 30 years. The absence of consistent national data on deaths among homeless people makes the scale of the crisis harder to address.
Katie Feeney of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness noted the absence of consistent national data on deaths among homeless people, stating, “When we fail to count the deaths, we fail to see the full scale of the crisis.”
The memorial service, supported by several community organisations, serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to reduce rough sleeping. Dominic Sullivan emphasised the importance of public acknowledgement, saying, “For many, this may be the only public memorial held in their honour.”
The service took place at 6pm on 21st June in Martin Place, inviting members of the public to join in remembrance and reflection.
Following the event, community leaders stressed the importance of addressing systemic issues in housing and support services to prevent future tragedies.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:47 am
