At least 440 homeless people died in UK in past year, study shows
By Patrick Greenfield, Sarah Marsh and Maeve McClenaghan - The... moreBy Patrick Greenfield, Sarah Marsh and Maeve McClenaghan - The Guardian - 08 October 2018
Charities condemn ‘horrifying’ number of deaths on streets and in shelters
More than 440 homeless people have died on streets or in temporary accommodation in the UK in the past year, an investigation has found.
A former soldier, an astrophysicist and a Big Issue seller are among the hundreds who have died since October 2017. They were found dead in shop doorways, hostels and camping in tents in woodland, with some lying dead for months before their bodies were discovered, requiring forensic testing for identification.
Charities have called the deaths a national disgrace and have blamed soaring homelessness on austerity, expensive private rents and a lack of social housing. They called on local authorities to hold investigations into every death as standard.
The figures, compiled by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), are likely to be a substantial underestimate as no official organisation counts homeless... less
