Heartbreaking new figures have revealed how many homeless people died in the North East last year.
Around 30 homeless people died across the region in 2021, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
The tragic deaths included nine people in Newcastle, six people in Sunderland, five people in County Durham, and three people in North Tyneside. Three people in Gateshead, two people in Darlington, and two people in Northumberland were also among the deaths.
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The same number of deaths were recorded in the North East in 2020 and 24 homeless deaths were recorded in 2019.
Across England and Wales, around 741 homeless people died last year, equating to two people dying every day. The average age at death was just 45 for men and 43 for women.
It comes as campaigners from homelessness charity Shelter warn that millions are facing 'one of the toughest winters yet.'
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “A freezing doorway, a bed in an emergency hostel, or a flimsy tent is no substitute for a home. It is utterly awful and unacceptable that two people die every day without anywhere safe to live – and this number is rising.
“Our frontline services are seeing more people who’ve run out of options, are facing homelessness, and the very real possibility of sleeping rough. This is going to be one of the toughest winters yet as so many people battle rising rents while housing benefit stays frozen.
“The Government promised to end rough sleeping, but things are getting worse, not better. The Government must immediately unfreeze and increase housing benefits to protect people from the ravages of homelessness this winter, and to keep people off the streets for good it has to invest in building good quality, supported social homes.”
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