More than 1,300 homeless people died across the UK last year, according to research by a social justice group.
The Museum of Homelessness reported the figure of 1,313 in 2022 was an increase of 85 per cent compared to when it began its work four years ago. The group has been operating the Dying Homeless Project since 2019 and uses information from coroners' inquiries, media coverage, family testimony, and freedom of information requests to clarify details of each case.
It said the aim of the project is to honour and remember the people "who would so often be forgotten". According to the group's research, deaths in England rose 22 per cent on 2021 to 875 in 2022 while in Wales it rose by 27 per cent to 76.
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However, Scotland saw a 15 per cent decline on 2021, with 157 fatalities recorded in 2022. Deaths also fell in Northern Ireland by more than a third to 205, but it still remains double the level seen in 2020.
Researchers have estimated that the actual number of homeless deaths is likely to be higher because some local authorities have not contributed towards the project over the last two years. They also highlighted that the the vast majority of deaths in 2022 took place after the person was placed in some form of homeless accommodation instead of sleeping rough.
Museum of Homelessness director Matt Turtle called for “far stronger policy and investment” in order to deal with the “appalling loss of life”. He added: “With a heavy heart we expect to report more of the same in 2024, but with our colleagues, we will continue to do what we can to save lives.”
The project also obtained figures examining the number of deaths that occurred in exempt accommodation - a type of supported housing for residents with specific needs that is exempt from local caps on housing benefits. Of the 12 local authorities who responded to the group's request for information, Manchester reported 109 deaths in exempt accommodation across 98 properties.
This is accompanied by 21 deaths among the rest of Manchester's homeless population - bringing the total number to 130.
Mr Turtle said: “The fact that so many people continue to die in unregulated, taxpayer-funded accommodation run by rogue landlords is a disgrace. The upcoming Supported Housing (regulatory oversight) Bill will provide an urgently needed framework to regulate the rogues but it’s clear local authorities won’t have the resources they need to implement it.
“The Government needs to move past piecemeal measures to address both the immediate crisis and the lack of social housing that causes it.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said its plan to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping “includes £186 million to help those with drug and alcohol addiction access recovery services and up to £53m for suitable and stable accommodation”.
They added: “Councils have a duty to ensure temporary accommodation is suitable and we are providing them with £654m over two years to help prevent homelessness.”
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