Thames Reach responds to new figures detailing homeless deaths

Bill Tidnam, Thames Reach’s Chief Executive comments on new homeless death figures

Thames Reach responds to new figures detailing homeless deaths

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today released figures detailing the number of people who have died while homeless in 156 of the 347 local authorities in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017.

Bill Tidnam, Chief Executive at Thames Reach responded saying:

“These figures are a tragedy.

“Through our outreach work on the streets, and through our hostels and other services, we know that rough sleeping causes lasting damage to a person’s physical health.

“This means that people who have slept rough are often much less healthy and die younger than the rest of the population. 

“These health problems stay with them even when they leave the streets, and are made worse by poor access to the health care that they need. 


“The latest statistics from CHAIN (Combined Homelessness And Information Network) show that 50% of people who are sleeping rough have mental health issues, as well as drug and alcohol problems.  

“As well as helping people to move away from the streets, we need to be working with colleagues in the NHS to help vulnerable people access the local health services and treatments they need, to recover and stay well”.

To read more about the figures, click here.

Read about Thames Reach's outreach services