New homelessness data sheds light on frightening reality 

New data by the Australian Institute of Health has revealed that people experiencing homelessness have a death rate almost double the wider population.

The 10-year study has uncovered that more than 12,000 people die within a year of seeking homelessness help. 

It also revealed that the mortality rate for people who sought support from homelessness services in the 12 months before their death was nearly double the rate of other people, and the median age of death was just 49.

With more than 1000 people experiencing homelessness in the City of Melbourne and an increasing number of people sleeping rough around Southbank, there is a call for more decisive action to be taken by the Victorian Government. 

Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale urged the government to take further steps to address the crisis.

“These figures lay bare a heartbreaking reality: homelessness is cutting lives tragically short,” she said. 

“As a starting point, all deaths of people experiencing homelessness should have to be referred to the coroner. The attorney-general has the power to make this change with the stroke of a pen.”

The study also brought to light that women aged 25 to 34 are among the most vulnerable, with women who sought homelessness assistance in the past 12 months accounting for 10 per cent of deaths of people within this age category. 

Ms Di Natale believes that behind every statistic is a person who deserved safety, dignity, and a chance at life. 

“They deserved a home, and a chance to spend more time with their loved ones,” she said. 

“This data confirms what frontline workers have known for years: homelessness has far-reaching implications. This is a public health emergency.”

The AIHW data also shows injury, and poisoning is the number one cause of death for people experiencing homelessness.

One in six accidental poisoning deaths in Australia is a person who has sought homelessness assistance in the past year. •