1200 people died homeless in United Kingdom in 2021 | homelessness

Over 1200 people in UK died being homeless in 2021, 32% increase on previous year as cuts in mental illness, drugs and alcohol, and housing services took their loss, according to research.

Annual Audit of the Charitable Museum of homelessness, found most deaths occurred among people a life in emergency housing or hostels. People sleeping rough or surfing on the couch count for 63 deaths and seven deaths were caused by Covid-19.

Of the 253 cases where cause of death was confirmed, 41% were related to drug and alcohol use and 12% to suicide, which the charity says reflects general inadequacy of provision of mental health and addiction services.

“My heart breaks when you see so many people dying and feel so helpless in in face of such a serious emergency. Government neglect means things keep getting worse with new security for mental health, addiction and social housing is unable to do up for previous cuts,” said Jess Turtle, co-founder of Museum of Homelessness.

She added: “A confidential investigation into the deaths of of homeless people to allow An honest evaluation of what happens to the most vulnerable in the UK people. There should also be mandatory death checks for all local governments – so that lessons can be learned from each death”.

The charity warned that cost of a life crisis, increasing evictions, and overstretched budgets for housing and the homeless are likely to put lives of many more homeless people in risk in coming months.

Of the 12 local government districts in which highest numbers of deaths in 2020, 11 registered rise last year. Seven recorded three-digit percentage increases: Glasgow, Enfield, Bedford, Barnet, Southampton, Stoke and Tower Hamlets.

Number of Significant declines have been recorded in local government areas in room of homeless deaths, showing “positive progress” by the Museum of Homelessness. Among them are Sterling, Manchester, Kingston upon Hull and Camden.

Charity says it’s dying homeless project used information from the coroners’ investigation, media coverage, family testimony and more than 300 freedom of information (FOI) asks to check the details of every case.

past year checked 1286 “real and actual” deaths in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. up out of 976 in 2020 and 710 in 2020. This is likely an underestimate as not all authorities responded to freedom of information requests, including major councils such as Birmingham and Blackpool.

325 homeless people died. in Northern Ireland, figures show although the Northern Ireland Housing Authority has warned that this reflects a very different definition of homeless people and many people in secure housing who will not be considered homeless in three other UK countries.

That latest official numbers for homeless deaths published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in December, estimated at least 688 people died being homeless in 2020, although this only applied to England and Wales.

It was a small fall on record recorded numbers in 2019 attributed to the “All Inside” scheme when 37,000 homeless people have been provided with hotel room in the first months of pandemic. Statisticians speak of difficulties in collecting death logging during the lockdown meant this could be understated.

BUT government the spokesman said: “Every death on our streets are a tragedy. According to our latest statistics released by the ONS, homeless deaths have dropped by 12%. in 2020 compared to previous year. Even one death is an one too much so councils get £2bn over in next three years before support homeless.”