Response to ONS figures on the number of deaths of homeless people

Responding to ONS figures on the number of deaths of homeless people, Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing Spokesman, said:


"Every death of a homeless person is preventable. We must make this everybody's business to work together to stop this tragic loss of life and stop homelessness from happening in the first place.

"Councils are determined to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping from happening in the first place and support families affected. This is becoming increasingly difficult with homelessness services facing a funding gap of more than £100 million in 2019/20.

"Proper resourcing of local government funding is essential if we are going to end rising homelessness. Councils also need to keep 100 per cent of the receipts of any homes they sell to replace them and reinvest in building more of the genuinely affordable homes they desperately need and the ability to adapt welfare reforms to prevent people from losing their home where possible."