Crisis responds as new research shows a record number of homeless deaths in 2024

Today (8 October), new research by the Museum of Homelessness has revealed there was a record number of people who died while homeless across the UK in 2024.

There were 1,611 deaths of people experiencing homelessness with an average of four needless deaths every day of the year – this is an increase of 9% on the previous year.

In response to these latest figures, Francesca Albanese, Executive Director of Policy & Social Change, said: “These heartbreaking figures must drive home the need for the Westminster Government to urgently come forward with an ambitious strategy to end homelessness.

“We are talking here about real people, including children – not just numbers. These are lives cut short and potential unrealised. In many cases, these deaths will have been avoidable. Each year, more people are forced into homelessness, often trapped for long periods in emergency accommodation. We know how much damage that can do to your health. 

“But it doesn’t need to be this way. We need to get on and build social housing so that people have access to affordable, settled homes. We also need to unfreeze housing benefit to stop people from being pushed into poverty and to prevent rising homelessness. The solutions are known – they now need to be urgently implemented otherwise we risk seeing more appalling and unnecessary loss of life.”