HOMELESSNESS campaigners have demanded the Scottish Government takes urgent action after grim new statistics revealed a shocking spike in the number of people dying on our streets.
According to figures compiled by the National Records of Scotland, 195 people experiencing homelessness died in 2018 – that’s a 19% increase in the estimate of 164 in 2017.
Homeless charity Shelter said those who died had been "failed by the system".
The figures, which include those in temporary accommodation and rough sleepers, indicate that Scotland’s homeless death rate at 35.9 per million is more than double that of England, which sits at 16.8 per million.
Glasgow and Aberdeen had the highest homeless death rates in Scotland.
Most of those who died, 79%, were men. More than half of all deaths were drug-related. The mean age at death was 43 for females and 44 for males.
READ MORE: 'Tragic': 12,000 children homeless in Scotland last Christmas
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said the figures were “shocking”.
He said the deaths were people “living in desperate situations ultimately failed by the system".
Brown added: “They will leave behind them bereaved relatives and friends who have our sympathies. It is vital that the effort to end this loss of life does not end with the publication of the figures.
“The housing, health, social care and justice sectors need to work more closely together to ensure people get the tailored support they need for health issues such as mental illness and addictions. We also need to see housing that supports people to recover and stay well.”
He also called for the Government to look again at the Housing First model, where those suffering homelessness are secure tenancies rather than sent to B&Bs and hostels.
Brown said: “The Housing First model is a good example of how this can be done but only if it is adequately resourced with good housing and highly-skilled professionals providing support services to ensure it reaches those most at risk.”
Homelessness campaigner Sean Clerkin urged Finance Secretary Derek McKay to set aside £130 million to combat homelessness in tomorrow’s budget.
“This financial investment would provide first class Rapid Re-Housing Transition, Housing First and very good temporary accomodation for a short period," he said.
“A massive council house building programme has to take place in conjunction with housing associations doing the same with the investment provided by the Scottish Government so that all people in Scotland have dry, warm and secure homes.
“Today’s marks a very tragic date in our nation’s history which must never be repeated.”
Housing minister Kevin Stewart insisted the Government was working to “transform services”.
He said: “One person being made homeless is one too many and that is why the Scottish Government are working in partnership to transform services to ensure our system supports those at risk.
“While this report is based on experimental statistics, it’s findings will help the Scottish Government to further understand the many issues affecting the most vulnerable in our society and will help us as we double our efforts to eradicate homelessness and it’s causes, in Scotland.”
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