This week, figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed that 726 homeless people died last year, and that one seventh of all those deaths took place on the streets of the North West.
Now, the Salford Unemployed Community Resource Centre (SUCRC) and its Prison Project have urged the Government to take the statistics seriously, launch an urgent investigation into the condition of homelessness in the UK, and to consider creating an emergency Ministry for the Homeless.
"This is a national disgrace and in the North West a shame which needs urgently addressing" says Alec McFadden manager of SUCRC "We are still seeing homeless people being evicted from empty buildings, and this type of action puts their lives at risk. The rights and lives of our homeless must come before the value of property."
In May fifteen homeless people were forced out of a former doctor's surgery on Church Street in Eccles by the courts and bailiffs (see here). The building had been empty for nine years and still remains empty.
"Every effort must be put in place to save lives, including the provision of priority flu jabs for homeless people and all vulnerable people before the winter sets in" adds McFadden "We are working very closely with the excellent Salford Primary Care Together to be able to provide that basic but essential provision."
Life expectancy for homeless men is now only 45 years, and even Luke Heselwood, a researcher at the centre-right think tank Reform, says that "These tragic figures show that the Government's policies to tackle homelessness are failing.
"One year on from the Homelessness Reduction Act and the rough sleeping strategy which was meant to bolster efforts to prevent homelessness, the number of people dying on our streets should not be on the rise" he adds "Short-term, hand to mouth funding for local services has inhibited councils' efforts to implement legislation and prevent those at risk from becoming homeless."
Meanwhile, McFadden concludes: "Many good initiatives are being put forward by charities, councils, trade union organisation and churches, but tackling homelessness must urgently become a priority of Government, just like Finland with its 'housing first' policy, and the Greater Manchester 'Bed for Every Night' project is a welcome small step..."
SUCRC is working in partnership with Salford Primary Care Together in a medical and dental project to improve the quality of health in Salford and life expectancy of the homeless in the community.
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