Record high for homeless deaths in UK, figures reveal

The South-East has the lowest rate of homeless deaths in the UK, despite a national crisis.

Recently released statistics by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have found that while the number of identified deaths relating to homelessness have escalated in many areas in the UK, the south-east has seen a decline.

Medway-based charity Gillingham Street Angels provide a service to the local homeless community, by ‘providing food, drink and essentials such as toiletries, clothing and bedding’.

Charity frontman Neil Charlick praised Medway Council for their continued help for those on the streets: “The council are actually doing a lot more in the last six months.

“I think the scheme Housing First has had lots of success in the Medway area.

“They’ve got outreach workers who often come to us asking to be put in the right direction.”

The statistics also revealed an estimated 726 deaths of homeless people in England and Wales registered in 2018, the highest increase since records begun.

The charity runs a soup kitchen three times a week, seeing on average 150 locals, and is opening a charity shop tomorrow (Saturday 5).

Neil found himself homeless and became an addict, an experience he says inspired him to do more to help those in a similar position: “When I got help, I just started buying the odd cup of tea for someone I’d see whilst walking down Chatham High Street.

“Then cups of tea became sleeping bags, now here we are.”

The number of identified deaths in the South East in 2018 was 59, down from a previous 81 in 2016, a record high.

In his time at running the charity, Neil has had a deal with three homeless deaths, and recognises how easy it is for people to turn to substance abuse.

“I’ve had to deal with three deaths since I’ve been doing this, and it’s never nice. Sometimes the police don’t even know who they are.

“But I’ve been homeless myself, I know how easy it is for people to turn to drinks and drugs.”

Figures from has recorded 11.9 deaths per million people in the South-East in 2018, while London had the highest numbers with 22.1 deaths per million.

The Museum of Homelessness has helped the ONS gather these statistics, whom earlier this year found at least one person is dying every 19 hours due to homelessness.

The group’s co-founder Jessica Turtle said: “We do think that [from what we have recorded so far] we will really see an increase again, so the picture will get bleaker.”