New figures reveal homeless people in England and Wales far more likely to die in deprived areas
25.02.2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further comment or to arrange a spokesperson interview email simon.trevethick@crisis.org.uk or call 0207 426 3880
Today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures detailing the number of people who have died while homeless in each local authority across England and Wales between 2013 and 2017. The figures show that homeless people are nine point two (9.2) times more likely to die when living in the most deprived areas of the country¹. The figures also reveal that the highest estimated numbers of deaths during the five year period were in major urban areas, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and London².
In response, Crisis Chief Executive, Jon Sparkes, said: “It’s nothing less than shameful that hundreds of people across England and Wales with nowhere to turn have died while homeless, especially when we know that homelessness is entirely preventable. This simply cannot go on.
“Governments must ensure local authorities, particularly in the most deprived areas, have the appropriate funding to conduct reviews into the death of every person who has died while homeless, to prevent more people from dying needlessly. They must also make sure that when people do become homeless, they are rehoused quickly, and with the support they need to keep their homes, whether it’s help to find employment, mental health support or drug and alcohol services.
“Ultimately, we must stop these tragedies from happening year after year. Homelessness can and must be ended, but only if the root causes are tackled.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
1 When the estimated deaths of homeless people are analysed using deciles of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD), there is a clear gradient with most deaths occurring in the more deprived local areas. The rate of deaths per 100,000 population in the most deprived tenth of local areas in England was 9.2 times that of the least deprived tenth. For Wales, the rate of deaths per 100,000 population in the most deprived tenth of local areas was 3.4 times that of the least deprived tenth.
2
|
Local Authority |
Total deaths 2013-2017 |
Percentage increase 2013 to 2017 |
Deaths in 2017 |
Percentage increase 2016 to 2017 |
|
Birmingham |
90 |
13% |
18 |
0% |
|
Camden |
89 |
-29% |
15 |
-35% |
|
Manchester |
65 |
133% |
21 |
91% |
|
Lambeth |
65 |
6% |
17 |
113% |
|
Liverpool |
62 |
70% |
17 |
0% |
|
Bristol, City of |
52 |
183% |
17 |
70% |
|
Westminster |
52 |
-42% |
7 |
17% |
|
Leeds |
49 |
0% |
10 |
-9% |
|
Brighton and Hove |
48 |
0% |
11 |
-15% |
|
Newcastle upon Tyne |
46 |
86% |
13 |
30% |
|
Tower Hamlets |
44 |
-17% |
10 |
100% |
|
Blackburn with Darwen |
41 |
175% |
11 |
0% |
|
Southampton |
40 |
-36% |
7 |
-42% |
|
City and Hackney |
38 |
-36% |
7 |
-36% |
|
Leicester |
37 |
-17% |
5 |
-55% |
|
Kingston upon Hull, City of |
35 |
200% |
12 |
9% |
|
Southwark |
34 |
200% |
12 |
50% |
|
Bournemouth |
34 |
-25% |
9 |
800% |
|
Oxford |
33 |
67% |
10 |
0% |
|
Lewisham |
31 |
350% |
9 |
29% |
|
Sheffield |
30 |
-44% |
5 |
25% |
|
Islington |
30 |
-44% |
5 |
-38% |
|
Newham |
27 |
|
7 |
40% |
|
Cardiff |
24 |
-56% |
4 |
-33% |
|
Ealing |
23 |
-33% |
4 |
-20% |
|
Plymouth |
23 |
-50% |
2 |
-82% |
|
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly |
22 |
75% |
7 |
75% |
|
Salford |
21 |
|
6 |
-25% |
|
Northampton |
21 |
|
7 |
40% |
For a full breakdown of the figures visit the ONS website here