Homeless campaigners have warned that millions are now facing "one of the toughest winters yet" as 38 people die on the streets of Merseyside.
And while the number of deaths fell in 2021, local charities are seeing an increase of people becoming homeless and needing support. The tragic 38 deaths compares to 44 in 2020, 41 in 2019, 25 in 2018, and 28 in 2017.
Across Merseyside that includes 19 in Liverpool, six in St Helens, six in Wirral, five in Knowsley, and two in Sefton. Homeless and housing charity, The Whitechapel Centre, located on Langsdale Street in Everton told the ECHO it is seeing an increasing number of people becoming homeless.
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A Whitechapel Centre spokesperson, said: "No one should be living or dying on the streets but the reality is that it does happen. Street living is dangerous and healthcare is often difficult to access, leading to deteriorating health conditions. Many of the people we work with have long-term health conditions which need regular medication and treatment.
"The Whitechapel Centre outreach team are out every day, providing support and encouraging people to come indoors. We work closely with Brownlow Group Practice, who provide a weekly open access clinic for people who are homeless. We are also joined on street outreach by We Are With You who are able to arrange same day prescribing, Brook Place (Mersey Care community drug and alcohol team) and HOTs (Mersey Care’s homeless mental health team). We also have a hospital in-reach team that help to support people who are homeless and require hospital treatment.
"Sadly we are seeing an increasing number of people becoming homeless. In the last six months we have seen as many people on the streets as in the whole of last year. As we head into the winter we are working with our partners to prepare for even more people to need our help.
"We urge people who are concerned about their housing situation to get help as soon as possible, before they are faced with sleeping on the street. We run a number of drop-in advice sessions every week, as well as phone and online chat support - visit our website for more info or call 0151 207 7617.
"For anyone who is rough sleeping now, please call the Always Help Available number on 0300 123 2041 (24 hours, low cost from a mobile)."
Last year an estimated 741 homeless people died in England and Wales. That's 54% higher than when records began in 2013, and equates to two people dying every day.
The average age at death was 45 for men and 43 for women. This is more than 30 years lower than the average age at death of the general population.
Birmingham had the highest number of estimated deaths of any local authority in England and Wales (20), followed jointly by Hull, Liverpool and Tower Hamlets with 19 each.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “A freezing doorway, a bed in an emergency hostel, or a flimsy tent are 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 benefit 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.”
