MELBOURNE, Fla. — Thursday was a day of remembrance in Brevard County, as family and friends gathered to honor members of the homeless community who died in 2023.

Joel Isaac, who helps homeless individuals by connecting them with resources, medical care and food, says that when one of them dies, it has a deep impact.

For the past four years, Isaac has served as an outreach specialist at Daily Bread in Melbourne. He’s dedicated to finding services for his homeless clients.

“Mainly I deal with crisis intervention, mostly in the field, trying to go to different camps, and the goal is to try to connect people to resources,” Isaac said.

He helps dozens of people each year, but says a sad part of the job is when one of the people he helped dies.

A month ago, David Herles died in a house fire on Guava Avenue — he was staying on a porch with permission from the owners.

Isaac said he remembers the last time he saw him.

“That day was a tense day, the day before, and somebody took a picture with my shoe in my hand, and everything was rolled up (sleeves) and when I look at the picture he’s right behind," Isaac said. "I was like, well, you’re stuck with me now, that was my boy."

Thursday was Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, and family and friends gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Melbourne to remember their loved ones.

There was prayer, singing, and candles were lit in the memory of each of the names of the nearly 100 people who died in Brevard County in 2023.

That includes Herles — a person Isaac said he will never forget. 

“It is my belief that they are looking down and grateful as well,” Isaac said.

Two other ceremonies were held Thursday in Cocoa and Titusville.