‘Troubling’ data reveals rise in deaths among Norfolk homeless

George King andOwen SennittLocal Democracy reporterPA MediaThe Museum of Homelessness recorded 9 deaths in Norfolk in 2024, 4 greater than recorded within the yr beforeThe quantity of people that have died whereas homeless in a county has nearly doubled in a yr, new knowledge has discovered.Analysis by the Museum of Homelessness has revealed that 9 folks died in Norfolk final yr in contrast with 5 in 2023, with the common age being 43.Nationally, the determine has reached 1,611, which incorporates 11 youngsters, and represents a rise of 9% general, whereas within the East of England there have been 96 deaths – a 41% rise.Campaigners have described the deaths as “unforgivable” and known as on the federal government and native authorities to do extra to deal with a rising tide of homelessness.Dr Jan Sheldon, chief government of Norwich homelessness charity St Martins Belief, stated the cost-of-living disaster, authorities failings and job losses had been among the many explanation why extra folks had been sleeping tough – and dropping their lives.”The rise within the variety of deaths on the streets is a failure of successive governments to not adequately deal with the foundation,” she stated.”In Norwich we now have seen a rise within the variety of folks sleeping tough. That is replicated throughout Norfolk.”It is unforgivable – folks shouldn’t be dying on our streets in 2025.”ContributedMarie Cattermole was one of many county’s most up-to-date excessive profile homelessness deaths, having died in 2022The deaths reported in Norfolk throughout 2024 occurred in Norwich, Nice Yarmouth, west Norfolk, south Norfolk, and north Norfolk, the Native Democracy Reporting Service stated.Three folks had been reported as having died whereas sleeping tough on the streets, whereas the opposite deaths occurred whereas they had been in short-term lodging.Of the 96 deaths throughout the area in 2024 – up from 68 in 2023 – 34% had been because of bodily well being issues, 44% had been medication or alcohol associated, and 11% had been recorded as suicide.”If the foundation causes of homelessness usually are not addressed at central authorities stage shortly we will solely anticipate the variety of deaths on our streets to extend,” added Dr Sheldon.’Deeply troubling’Lately, a number of deaths of homeless folks have rocked the county, together with Marie Cattermole, 32, who was discovered unresponsive in Norwich in 2022.Malcolm Livingstone, a navy veteran who served as a pallbearer for Princess Diana, was additionally discovered useless exterior a church in King’s Lynn.And, in Nice Yarmouth, Nigel Mazs, 59, was killed after being kicked within the head throughout an argument with one other man.The Museum of Homelessness – a charity primarily based in north London – described its newest findings as “deeply troubling”.It blamed the rise on a “failure to construct genuinely reasonably priced housing, to put money into accessible community-based psychological well being companies and to behave on clear proof round overdose prevention”.The charity’s knowledge was collated utilizing data from coroners’ courts, media protection, household testimony and Freedom of Data requests.The deaths recorded throughout the UK included folks residing in short-term or supported lodging, in addition to tough sleepers.Matthew Richards/BBCMP Alison McGovern, who’s the federal government’s homelessness minister, stated work was being undertaken to deal with the crisisHomelessness Minister Alison McGovern stated deaths should be seen as an “abject failure that can not be tolerated” or accepted as regular.”These figures are heartbreaking,” she stated.”Each lack of a life, particularly the demise of a kid, is an abject failure that can not be tolerated.”Each particular person deserves a secure place to name residence, which is why we’re accelerating efforts to deal with the foundation causes of homelessness, increasing entry to secure lodging while additionally strengthening help companies.”