‘Shameful’ figures reveal number of homeless deaths in the UK in 2022

Majority of deaths occurred among people housed in temporary accommodation, analysis shows

The nationwide figure of 1313 deaths in 2022 is likely to be an underestimate (Getty)

More than 1,300 homeless people in the UK died in 2022, with deaths steadily increasing in England year on year, new research has found.

The annual audit by charity Museum of Homelessness found that most deaths occurred among people living in temporary accommodation rather than rough sleeping, prompting concerns about the standard of housing and support provided for people when they are taken off the streets.

Deaths in England and Wales rose by 18 per cent from 2021 to 2022, but fell in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The nationwide figure of 1313 deaths in 2022 is likely to be an underestimate, as a number of councils, including Ealing, Birmingham and Blackpool, refused to contribute to the research.