Homeless charity marks 50 years with 'reality' check

The average age of death for people living on the streets in the UK is 45 for men and 43 for women, according to Porchlight

A charity is marking its 50th anniversary with a stark warning that many homeless people do not live to that age.

Canterbury-based Porchlight is to launch an installation on the streets of Kent to highlight the “deadly reality” of homelessness.

The installation will feature six tents with messages on them highlighting how people living on the streets are unlikely to celebrate their 50th birthday.

Charity spokesman Chris Thomas said: “Until everyone can celebrate their 50th birthday, we won’t be celebrating ours.”

The installation will appear in eight locations across Canterbury, Rochester, Ashford, Margate, Tunbridge Wells, Faversham and Folkestone.

It begins on World Homeless Day on 10 October and ends in November.

'Getting worse'

Porchlight says homelessness is at an all-time high, while demands for mental health services are on the rise and more people are being pushed into poverty.

It says the average age of death for people living on the streets in the UK is 45 for men and 43 for women.

Mr Thomas added: “Although we’re doing everything we can to keep people safe, funding cuts have scaled back the help we’re able to provide.

"At the same time, homelessness is getting worse.

“Our charity’s founders could never have imagined that five decades on the situation would be so dire.”

He added: “We hope this installation amplifies the danger people face and that someone in a position of power takes notice and takes action.”

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