Homelessness
Who is most affected and why?
People experiencing homelessness tend to suffer from worse physical and mental health than the general population.
According to the Homelessness Health Needs Audit conducted in 2022, between 2018 to 2021, 63% of homeless respondents had a long-term illness, disability, or infirmity (physical or mental weakness). There was a 37% increase in the number of homeless people with a mental health diagnosis and 45% of respondents reported that they self-medicated with drugs and or alcohol to help them cope.
There also seems to be a correlation between experiencing homelessness (especially rough sleeping and entering emergency accommodation) and a poorer life expectancy than those who have not experienced homelessness. The average age for adults who died while experiencing homelessness in the UK in 2023 was around 50 years for men and women, compared to 79 years for men and 83 years for women in the general population.
