Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Disgrace as 991 homeless die on streets
CHARITIES blasted the Government’s “shameful” record on housing after 991 homeless people died in Britain last year.
Official figures show 741 died in England and Wales plus 250 in Scotland.
Nearly two in five deaths were drug-related, while another 13% were suicides, up by a third in a year.
Homeless deaths have risen in every region since 2013, with London and the North West worst hit.
The 2019 Tory manifesto had vowed to end rough sleeping by the end of the next Parliament.
Homeless charity Crisis is braced for an incredibly busy winter.
Chief exec Matt Downie said: “We desperately need more social homes.” Homeless Link called the latest figures “shameful”.
A Government spokesman promised £2billion over the next three years to tackle homelessness.