A verified rough sleeper is described as a homeless person who has been seen rough sleeping by an outreach worker. The average age of a rough sleeper at death is 43, according to the Guardians figures. The number of homeless people recorded dying on streets or in temporary accomodation has more than doubled in the last five years in the UK.

The number of homeless people recorded dying on streets or in temporary accomodation has more than doubled in the last five years in the UK.
With people found dead in supermarket car parks, church graveyards and crowded hostels, the number of deaths has risen year on year, from 31 in 2013 to 70 in 2017. At least 230 people have died in that period.

Around 90% of those who died in the last five years were men, where gender was provided.
“These figures are a devastating reminder that rough sleeping is beyond dangerous – it’s deadly, and it’s claiming more and more lives each year” said Matthew Downie of the homeless charity Crisis.

He added ” Those sleeping on our streets are exposed to everything from sub-zero temperatures to violence and abuse, and fatal illnesses. They are 17 times more likely to be a victim of violence, twice as likely to die from infections, and nine times more likely to commit suicide. What’s worse, we know these figures are likely to be an underestimate.

According to statistics Birmingham is one of the UK’s homelessness hotspots. In our city 1 in 119 people is without a home.