Homeless death every 19 hours, research finds

New research from the Museum of Homelessness has found that at least 235 people affected by homelessness have died over the last six months – an average of one every 19 hours.

As part of data accumulated for the Dying Homeless Project, the charity discovered that more than 30 per cent of fatalities since 2017 have occurred where people were in emergency or temporary accommodation. The evidence, they argue, provides a stark illustration of how the services provided to the UK’s most vulnerable people regularly fail to meet an acceptable standard.

Matt Turtle, co-founder of Museum of Homelessness, said: “People affected by homelessness continue to die at a shocking rate despite the passage of the homelessness reduction act nearly 18 months ago. We regularly hear from people who feel they’re safer on the streets than in hostels and this data shows why. People are placed in inadequate, unsafe accommodation, whether badly run hostels or other forms of private rented accommodation, with all too often fatal consequences.”

The number of people that died over the last six months is likely to be significantly higher than suggested by the figures given the slow pace at which necessary data is revealed by local authorities and front-line service providers.