A nation failing its most vulnerable

Over 1,611 homeless people died last year – including 11 children

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Deaths among homeless people in the UK have risen by 9% in a year and included 11 children, according to a group monitoring the issue.

The Museum of Homelessness said its research suggested at least 1,611 deaths in 2024 of people experiencing homelessness.

This was up from 1,474 deaths in 2023 and 1,313 deaths in 2022.

The Museum of Homelessness has been running the Dying Homeless Project since 2019 and gathers its data each year through freedom of information requests, coroner inquests and memorials submitted by bereaved family members.

While rough sleeping is most associated with homelessness, living in temporary accommodation such as bed and breakfasts, hostels or other short-term housing organised by a local authority is also a form of homelessness.

According to research by the Museum of Homelessness there were 11 children - those aged younger than 18-included in the data for last year, of which four were babies who had not yet reached their first birthday.