Almost 200 homeless Scots died in 2018 – with almost a third of those in Glasgow, shocking statistics reveal
ALMOST 200 homeless people died in Scotland in 2018 - with around a third of those in Glasgow, official statistics have revealed.
Figures released by National Records of Scotland have shown an increase of 19 per cent in the estimated homeless deaths from the previous year.
The NRS' experimental stats found 152 confirmed homeless deaths in 2018, with an estimated total of 192.
There were 49 identified deaths in Glasgow that year, with an estimated total of 63.
This leaves the city with a rate of 100.5 homeless deaths per million population.
The only higher death rate was in Shetland, which had 111.8 deaths per million population in 2018, but this was based on a very small number of deaths.
The figures also showed Scotland had by far the highest rate of homeless deaths in Britain, with a rate of 35.9 per million population compared to 16.8 in England and 14.5 in Wales.
More than half (53 per cent) of homeless deaths were drug-related and around three-quarters of the deceased were males.
The average age of death for homeless males was 44, while it was 43 for females.
Paul Lowe, NRS chief executive and registrar general for Scotland, stressed the results were experimental.
He said: “We have developed a method of estimating the incidence of homeless deaths in response to user demand.
"It is important to stress that these are experimental statistics and we will continue to work with users and stakeholders to assess their suitability and quality, as we continue to develop our methodology in future years”
The results being experimental mean the stats are still in the testing phase and have not been fully developed.
In order to identify the deceased as homeless, the NRS checked death registration records for information including place of residence, place of death and notes of deaths within institutions or hospitals.
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Kevin Stewart, Scotland's housing minister, said: “The reasons that lead to homelessness are often very complex, and many people who died while experiencing homelessness will have struggled with complex life challenges including addiction, poor mental health, and family breakdown.
"These challenges are often driven by a history of poverty, childhood adversity and trauma, including deteriorating physical and mental health, poor housing, contact with the criminal justice system, and other issues.
“This report shows that of the number of people who died while experiencing homelessness, 53% were drug related deaths. This reflects the wider public health emergency Scotland is facing over drug deaths.
"The next meeting of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group will have a specific focus on public health and addiction issues and both myself and the Public Health Minister will be attending.
“One person being made homeless is one too many and that is why the Scottish Government are working in partnership to transform services to ensure our system supports those at risk.
“While this report is based on experimental statistics, it’s findings will help the Scottish Government to further understand the many issues affecting the most vulnerable in our society and will help us as we double our efforts to eradicate homelessness and it’s causes, in Scotland.”
“One person being made homeless is one too many and that is why the Scottish Government are working in partnership to transform services to ensure our system supports those at risk."
Kevin Stewart, housing minister
But homelessness campaigners have called on the Scottish Government to put their money where their mouth is in their bid to eradicate homelessness.
Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, said: "The horrific number of homeless deaths in Scotland in 2017 and 2018 further underlines the inhuman way we still treat homeless people in a very unequal society.
"We urge the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay to set aside £130million - as stated by Scottish civil servants in Inside Housing 19th June 2019 that would be needed to properly tackle homelessness in Scotland - in his budget tomorrow.
"This financial investment would provide first class Rapid Re-Housing Transition, Housing First and very good temporary accommodation for a short period.
Estimated homeless deaths (death rate per million population) by area in Scotland
Scotland - 195 (35.9)
Aberdeen - 15 (67.8)
Aberdeenshire - 3 (9.8)
Angus - 0 (0)
Argyll and Bute - 4 (44.7)
Clackmannanshire - 3 (50)
Dumfries and Galloway - 4 (25.9)
Dundee - 6 (43.2)
East Ayrshire - 4 (31.6)
East Dunbartonshire - 1 (11.9)
East Lothian - 4 (36.4)
East Renfrewshire - 0 (0)
Edinburgh - 22 (42.1)
Falkirk - 3 (16)
Fife - 6 (17.3)
Glasgow - 63 (100.5)
Highlands - 13 (54.6)
Inverclyde - 3 (32.9)
Midlothian - 3 (28.1)
Moray - 0 (0)
Na h-Eileanan Siar - 1 (47.9)
North Ayrshire - 4 (28.5)
North Lanarkshire - 3 (7.6)
Orkney Islands - 1 (57.9)
Perth and Kinross - 4 (25.5)
Renfrewshire - 8 (43.4)
Scottish Borders - 0 (0)
Shetland Islands - 3 (111.8)
South Ayrshire - 1 (11.4)
South Lanarkshire - 9 (28.2)
Stirling - 1 (13.6)
West Dunbartonshire - 3 (28.8)
West Lothian - 3 (14.1)
"A massive council house building programme has to take place in conjunction with housing associations doing the same with the investment provided by the Scottish Government so that all people in Scotland have dry, warm and secure homes.
"Today marks a very tragic date in our nation's history which must never be repeated."
And Grant Campbell, director of Crisis Scotland, said: “For the first time, we can see the true, devastating scale of the number of people who have died without a place to call home, because of failings within the very system which should have prevented them from falling into poverty and homelessness in the first place.
"Behind these figures are human beings - mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters.
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“Every death must be fully investigated so that we can learn from the failings which caused someone to die without a home.
"We’re pleased to see commitments from Scottish Government towards ending homelessness, such as the push towards providing long-term homes and wrap around support for those with complex needs, as well as doing more to help people from losing their homes in the first place.
"Despite this, we still have the highest rates of homeless deaths in Great Britain. This is a damning and urgent reminder that we need to do so much more to support some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
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