Deaths Amongst The Homeless Double In Five Years

The number of homeless dying on the street or in temporary accommodation has more than doubled over the last five years.

Research by The Guardian reveals the death rate rising year-on-year to an average of one a week – and is said to be a substantial underestimate. The figures jump from 31 in 2013 to 70 last year, with bodies being found in supermarket car parks, church graveyards and crowded hostels. The government does not record the deaths of homeless people at the national level, and councils are not required to count rough sleeper deaths. According to the Guardian’s figures, the average age of a rough sleeper at death was 43, nearly half the UK life expectancy. Around 90% of those who died in the last five years were men.

The minister for homelessness, Heather Wheeler, said she had “no idea” why homelessness is rising – though she is sure it’s not down to welfare ‘reform’ and council cuts. Those on the ‘frontllne’ argue otherwise, directly linking the sharp and continuing rise to rent increases, welfare cuts and lack of social housing. Now, with at least 23 homeless deaths in sub-zero temperatures over recent weeks – including a man who died in the shadow of Parliament – Matthew Downie, of Crisis said the figures were a “devastating reminder” that rough sleeping was now beyond dangerous.

“It’s deadly and it’s claiming more and more lives each year,” he said. “Those sleeping on our streets are exposed to everything from sub-zero temperatures to violence and abuse, and fatal illnesses. They are 17 times more likely to be a victim of violence, twice as likely to die from infections, and nine times more likely to commit suicide. What’s worse, we know these figures are likely to be an underestimate.”

The Guardian investigation represents the most comprehensive record of homeless deaths in the UK to date and is already prompting calls for more robust statistics on mortality rates, and an extension of the review system used by councils and emergency services to investigate the deaths of vulnerable adults. Currently, homeless deaths are only investigated if there is concern that state agencies could have done more to prevent a death.

The Guardian asked all local authorities in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England how many verified rough sleepers have died within their areas over the last five calendar years, asking for details on age, gender, location and access to homelessness services for each death. They also asked councils to include deaths of verified rough sleepers in temporary accommodation, council run and commissioned B&Bs and support housing. Some councils confirmed they did not hold such information whilst others failed to respond.

Greater London is the only part of the UK which records detailed information on its street population through the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain), run by St Mungo’s. According to the figures, rough sleeping deaths peaked at 23 in 2014, and reached 21 in 2016, but fell to 16 last year. Recent statistics revealed rough sleeping as rising for the seventh consecutive year – squandering real progress made in getting numbers down. At least 4,751 are estimated as sleeping rough every night with the actual figure expected to be far higher.