'People should not be dying on the streets'

The Museum of Homelessness recorded seven deaths in Southend in 2024, up from one death in 2023

The head of a charity that supports rough sleepers said she was "incredibly concerned" at the rising number of deaths, with support struggling to keep up with demand.

Vanessa Hemmings, chief executive of Harp in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said homelessness was "an incredibly complex" issue, with no single reason for so many people losing their lives.

Figures released by the Museum of Homelessness reveal a spike in homelessness deaths in the city, which rose from one in 2023 to eight in 2024. Thirteen died in Essex last year, along with many more in the East of England.

"People should not be dying on the streets. That should not be happening in this day and age," Ms Hemmings said.

In the East of England including Northamptonshire, the number of deaths rose from 95 in 2023 to 114 in 2024 - which the Museum of Homelessness described as "statistically significant and deeply concerning".

'We're doing our best'

Vanessa Hemmings has worked with homeless people for the past 20 years

Ms Hemmings said one of the most common causes of death in homelessness was poor health, with many clients unable to access primary health care.

"Colder weather in particular heightens all the risk factors, so for somebody who has nowhere to go, having no access to a safe, warm space to sleep it means we're looking at people who are closer to potentially to losing their lives."

She said Southend had the highest number of rough sleepers in the East of England, adding: "There isn't a simple reason or answer for that."

"Creating affordable houses is one solution but it's not the only solution," she said.

"We're doing our best - we can't keep up with the demand."

'I am sleeping in the rain'

Frank has been homeless since June and says he worries about his health while living on the streets

Frank, 49, from Zimbabwe, has been sleeping rough since June and says he worries about his health while living on the streets.

Before becoming homeless, he said he worked in the aviation industry for 20 years.

He told the BBC he was unemployed due to the lack of job opportunities in this part of the country, which he believed had worsened in the last two years.

"I am sleeping in the rain, that is very tough, I am kicked around and looked down upon by the general society and public, to the extent where they cast slurs," he said.

"The general public, they spit on you - just from anywhere, I haven't done anything, I am not in your private place.

"I am sleeping on the street, I sleep in a garage, a pavement or an abandoned vehicle, or under car park bridges."

He said the council and government could do more for homeless people.

'Heartbreaking figures'

The Museum of Homelessness, which compiled the data, said 1,611 homeless people died across the UK in 2024 - a rise of 9% from the year before.

It said 1,142 of the deaths were recorded in England - a rise of 14% on 2023.

In the East of England including Northamptonshire, the number of deaths rose from 95 in 2023 to 114 in 2024.

The highest county deaths were recorded in Hertfordshire, with 23. Then there were 22 in Cambridgeshire plus a further four deaths in the Peterborough council area, then 15 in Northamptonshire and 13 in Essex.

The minister for homelessness, Alison McGovern, said the figures were "heartbreaking".

"Every person deserves a safe place to call home, which is why we are accelerating efforts to tackle the root causes of homelessness, expanding access to safe accommodation whilst also strengthening support services," she said.

'People slip through the net'

Keziah Cussen, team manager at the Bradley Day Centre, said it had supported a lot of rough sleepers

Keziah Cussen, team manager at the Bradbury Day Centre, said it had supported a lot of rough sleepers.

She said there was a man in his 40s who was "extremely entrenched in substance use while rough sleeping because it was his coping mechanism and he unfortunately passed away from an overdose".

When he died, he had nobody with him, she said. A member of the public saw him on the streets and called the emergency services.

"It is very, very difficult [and we can] see how people can slip through the net, especially people that are rough sleeping and the lifestyle choices people make, through no fault of their own," she added.

Ms Hemmings added: "It comes from a lack of funding in statutory services, lack of access in health care and support and lack of basic resources we need to maintain a healthy life.

"We are hopeful and optimistic that things will change. There is a desire in the community that there needs to be a solution."