The number of homeless people recorded dying on streets or in temporary accommodation has more than doubled over the last five years in the UK, the Guardian can reveal.
The figures compiled by the Guardian include an average of more than one death a week in 2017. But the figures are likely to be a substantial underestimate, as no part of the UK government records homeless death statistics at a national level, and local authorities are not required to count rough sleeper deaths. Greater London is the only part of the UK which records detailed information on street homelessness, through the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain), run by St Mungo’s.
The investigation has prompted leading homeless charities to call for more robust statistics on mortality rates, and an extension of the review system used by local government and emergency services to investigate the deaths of vulnerable adults. Currently, homeless deaths are only investigated if there is concern that state agencies could have done more to prevent a death.
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