Homeless death rate is ‘a scandal’

Homelessness groups are calling for better monitoring of
homeless people who die on the streets or in hostels after figures
showed 85 deaths in London in the past year.

Organisations including day centres and night shelters sent
names to charity Unleash: Church Action on Homelessness in London,
which collects the information every year.

Unleash organiser Alastair Murray said homelessness groups were
“scandalised” by the number of deaths.
He said: “This suggests that many people could not be getting the
health services they need.”

A commemoration service for homeless people who have died was
held this month at St Martin in the Fields church in central
London.

Projects manager at St Martin in the Fields Roger Shaljean said
many of the people who had died over the year had suffered from
respiratory conditions, mental health problems and alcohol-related
illnesses.

Research conducted by Crisis found rough sleepers have an
average life expectancy of 42 years and were 35 times more likely
to commit suicide than the general population.