More than 3000 Australians died needlessly over a 12-month period because they were homeless.
A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found there were around nine potentially avoidable deaths per day in 2022-23 among people with a history of getting specialist homelessness support (SHS).
Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said the analysis has, for the first time, examined death rates and characteristics of people with a history of homelessness support services who have died.
Ms Colvin said it found throughout 2012-13 to 2022-23, around 43,200 people with a history of SHS support died, with a median age at death of 55 years old; 28 years younger than Australia’s average life expectancy of 83.
She said more than half of the deaths that occurred in 2022-23 were potentially avoidable, in that, they were deaths from conditions that could have been prevented or treated with timely and effective health care.
“Potentially avoidable deaths among people in 2022-23 accounted for around 1 in 8 potentially avoidable deaths nationally.”
Ms Colvin said the leading causes of death for people with a history of SHS support included accidental poisoning, or overdosing, coronary heart disease and suicide.
She said in a decade, more than 8500 people with a history of SHS support died by suicide or overdose, which is more than 16 people per week.
“This is startling evidence of the deadly impact of homelessness, and the failure of governments to deliver the health services, homelessness support and housing people need to escape homelessness and recover their health.
“Vulnerable people are needlessly dying in our wealthy country.”
Learn more in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Specialist Homelessness Services: feature analysis.
