St Helens records slight increase in homeless deaths during pandemic

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that while there was only one recorded homeless death in each of the years from 2013 to 2015, the town recorded five deaths from people on the streets in 2020.

This is up from four recorded deaths in 2019.

As some homeless deaths may go unrecorded, the ONS also use an estimated deaths model to try and account for this and produce a more accurate figure - completed by looking closely at the death registration records in each area.

While London had the highest number of homeless deaths in 2020, the North West had the highest rate per million people

Using this model, St Helens is estimated to have had seven homeless deaths throughout 2020, and 33 during the seven year period from 2013.

Taking population size into account, this gives a figure of 52.6 estimated deaths per million people last year, which is the second highest figure across Merseyside.

This figure is also significantly higher than the national average at 15.7 estimated deaths per million people, and the North West which at 23.3 deaths per million people is the highest rate across England and Wales.

The highest number of estimated deaths in across the country over the past year was in Blackburn with Darwen, at 124.9 per million people.

Across England and Wales as a whole, the data shows that at least 688 people died while homeless last year, which is a slight fall from 2019.

As thousands of homeless people were given emergency accommodation across the country during lockdown, however, statisticians are concerned this may have produced an underestimation with the latest figures.

And although trends across the country show a gradual decline, St Helens recorded a slight increase.

In addition to this, the Council's analysis shows that there were four rough sleepers in the town in 2020.

This is concerning as data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows that there were at least 1,369 empty properties in St Helens at the most recent count in October.

Data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows that there were at least 1,369 empty properties in St Helens in October 2021

Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Stronger Communities, said: “The Council has been working very closely with its partners to help ensure no one in the borough is either forced to sleep rough or left homeless and is given the best possible support to improve their circumstances.

“Among the programmes we have been actively involved with is the National Rough Sleeper Initiative, which has included the creation of a Rough Sleeper Navigator officer to work alongside the Assertive Outreach Service to help identify and support rough sleepers in the borough.

"Working alongside an Accommodation Support Officer, their priority has been to make contact with rough sleepers and look at ways to provide both temporary and long term accommodation for them.

“We also recognise that the issues and needs of a homeless person often go beyond being simply being homeless and the council has been working with partners to establish a drugs and alcohol support service, a homeless health service and there is already a rough sleeping outreach service that includes a clinical nurse.

“Earlier this year in July, the council also worked to help provide 28 new units of accommodation for persons who had a history of rough sleeping or were at risk if rough sleeping. This is in addition to the two existing homeless supported housing schemes provided within the borough.”

Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Stronger Communities (Image: St Helens Council)

With concerns over the impact of coronavirus on homeless people during the pandemic, more than 150 people were provided temporary accommodation in St Helens from April 2020 to June 2021.

Covid vaccinations were also administered to the homeless community as a priority group to protect them from the worst effects of the virus, resulting in very few numbers of outbreaks.

The Council confirmed they are continuing this process to include booster and flu jabs, and working on finding long-term accommodation and long term solutions for rough sleepers.

Homeless people were treated as a priority in the coronavirus vaccination programme

If you need help on a housing issue or may be concerned that someone you know may be homeless, you can get more information through the following link