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Manchester records highest number of rough sleepers' deaths Manchester records highest number of rough sleepers' deaths
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More homeless people died in Manchester than any local authority area in England and Wales in 2017, according to the first national statistics capturing the pattern of deaths among rough sleepers and people living in homeless shelters. More homeless people died in Manchester than in any other local authority area in England and Wales in 2017, according to the first national statistics capturing the pattern of deaths among rough sleepers and people living in homeless shelters.
In 2017, 21 homeless people died in the north west city, three more than in Birmingham and four more than in Liverpool. Overall 136 people died in London – which is made up of 33 local authorities – with 17 dying in Lambeth and 15 in Camden, according to the estimates. In 2017, 21 homeless people died in the city, three more than in Birmingham and four more than in Liverpool. Overall, 136 people died in London – which is made up of 33 local authorities – including 17 deaths in Lambeth and 15 in Camden, according to the estimates.
English councils accused of hiding scale of homelessness crisisEnglish councils accused of hiding scale of homelessness crisis
The figures show that the relative poverty of an area is closely linked to the number of rough sleepers’ deaths. The most deprived areas suffered around nine times more deaths of homeless people relative to their population than the least disadvantaged areas, the Office for National Statistics found. The figures follow last December’s estimate that 597 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2017 and 2,627 in the five years from 2014. The figures show that the relative poverty of an area is closely linked to the number of rough sleeper deaths. The most deprived areas had around nine times more deaths of homeless people relative to their population than the least disadvantaged areas, the Office for National Statistics found.
Rough sleeping official counts in Manchester have soared from 7 people in 2010 to 123 in 2018 and, in common with many towns and cities, it has become highly visible with numerous people bedding down in city centre doorways and underpasses. The city has one of the highest rough sleeping rates in the country and one homeless man who has lost two friends has even been running homelessness tours to boost awareness. The figures follow last December’s estimate that 597 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2017 and a total of 2,627 in the five years from 2014.
But smaller towns recorded the highest numbers of homeless deaths per head of population. Blackburn with Darwen, in Lancashire, appeared in the five highest rates in four of the five years from 2014 and in 2017 had the highest rate in England and Wales, with nine deaths on record. Rough sleeping official counts in Manchester have soared from seven people in 2010 to 123 in 2018 and, in common with many other cities, it has become highly visible, with numerous people bedding down in city centre doorways and underpasses.
The next highest rate was Oxford, followed by Camden, Barrow-in-Furness and Canterbury. The Guardian revealed last month that at least four homeless people have died in Oxford since November, with another body of a suspected rough sleeper found in a church yard this month. An estimated 10 homeless people died in Oxford in 2017, according to the ONS, and 33 in the five years from 2014. Manchester has one of the highest rough sleeping rates in the country, and one homeless man who has lost two friends has even been running homelessness tours to boost awareness.
The situation in the town has sparked widespread public anger and the city council last week asked the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board to review whether serious harm experienced by people with care and support needs was down to neglect or abuse and whether this could have been predicted or stopped. But smaller towns recorded the highest numbers of homeless deaths per head of population. Blackburn with Darwen, in Lancashire, appeared in the five highest rates in four of the five years from 2014, and in 2017 it had the highest rate in England and Wales, with nine deaths on record.
The next highest rate was in Oxford, followed by Camden, Barrow-in-Furness and Canterbury.
The Guardian revealed last month that at least four homeless people had died in Oxford since November, and this month the body of another suspected rough sleeper was found in a church yard. An estimated 10 homeless people died in Oxford in 2017, according to the ONS, and 33 in the five years from 2014.
The situation in Oxford has sparked widespread public anger and last week the city council asked the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board to review whether serious harm experienced by people with care and support needs was down to neglect or abuse and whether this could have been predicted or stopped.
Why are homeless people still dying in the UK?Why are homeless people still dying in the UK?
In December Aron Gibson, 37, died in McDonalds in Cornmarket, in Oxford city centre. Four days later, Czeslaw Mazak, 36, who slept rough and often without a tent, was found dead near a city centre nightclub, and there were two deaths in housing projects funded by the government’s rough sleeper initiative: Sharron Maasz, 44, who died on 21 January and a 50-year-old man who died on 29 January. A man in his sixties was also found in St Frideswide churchyard and died on 5 February. In December Aron Gibson, 37, died in a McDonald’s in Cornmarket, in Oxford city centre. Four days later, Czeslaw Mazak, 36, who slept rough and often without a tent, was found dead near a city centre nightclub. In January there were two deaths in housing projects funded by the government’s rough sleeper initiative: those of Sharron Maasz, 44, on 21 January, and a 50-year-old man on 29 January. A man in his 60s found in St Frideswide churchyard died on 5 February.
Responding to the new figures, Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Crisis, the homelessness charity, said it was “shameful that hundreds of people across England and Wales with nowhere to turn have died while homeless”. Responding to the new figures, Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Crisis, the homelessness charity, said it was shameful that hundreds of people had died while homeless.
“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,” he said. “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.” He said: “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.”
The ONS said: “These new estimates are important because of the need for high-quality health intelligence to inform local homelessness strategies and the most appropriate provision of services.”The ONS said: “These new estimates are important because of the need for high-quality health intelligence to inform local homelessness strategies and the most appropriate provision of services.”
HomelessnessHomelessness
HousingHousing
Social exclusionSocial exclusion
Wales
ManchesterManchester
CommunitiesCommunities
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester
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