Homeless deaths should raise alarm as we head into dangerous winter for rough sleepers - Labour
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Alarming data from the ONS on deaths of homeless people in England
and Wales reveals this morning that 778 died homeless last year, 52
more than the previous year, and the highest number of estimated
deaths since the time series began in 2013. Of particular concern
is that suicides among homeless people has increased by 30 per cent
in just one year. This comes as Keir Starmer has written to the
Prime Minister warning that the rough sleeping crisis this
Christmas is “just...Request free trial
Alarming data from the ONS on deaths of homeless people in England and Wales reveals this morning that 778 died homeless last year, 52 more than the previous year, and the highest number of estimated deaths since the time series began in 2013. Of particular concern is that suicides among homeless people has increased by 30 per cent in just one year. This comes as Keir Starmer has written to the Prime Minister warning that the rough sleeping crisis this Christmas is “just the tip of the iceberg” of poverty and destitution. Before the pandemic, rough sleeping had already doubled over the 10 years of Conservative governments. While Covid will significantly increase the risks associated with sleeping rough this winter, homelessness services told Labour that they won’t have the tools they would usually use to help people off the streets. In one case, less than one third of the night shelter beds on offer last year will be available this winter. Thousands of rough sleepers risk being turned away from life-saving shelter. Thangam Debbonaire MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, responding to this new data, said: “The rapid increase in these deaths over the last six years is a shameful sign of Government failure and should raise alarm at the top of Government. “Before the Covid crisis, a record number of people were dying while homeless. This winter will be even more dangerous. “The Government must commit that nobody will spend Christmas on the streets – this is a matter of life or death.” Ends Notes to Editors
o Everyone should mean everyone - regardless of nationality, the Government should not discriminate when it comes to helping people o Young people, those fleeing domestic abuse and LGBT+ homeless people should have access to specialist services. o At the last election, the Government promised to end rough sleeping for good. Before this crisis, they were already failing to meet their targets. They need to keep to that pledge.
o In one case, less than one third of the night shelter beds on offer last year will be available this winter, meaning around 6,500 rough sleepers risk being turned away o Charities are struggling with less than half the usual number of volunteers this year, reducing the help they can offer rough sleepers
Source: Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, ‘Rough sleeping 2019, England’ Local authority level data: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/682006/Tables_1_and_2a_2b_2c_-_revised.xlsx
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