UK homelessness deaths up 9% in a year, including 11 children, say researchers
The South West has some of the highest homeless fatality rates in the country
Deaths among homeless people in the UK have risen by 9% in a year and included 11 children, according to a group monitoring the issue.
The biggest rises were in the South West, the researchers said.
The Museum of Homelessness said its research suggested at least 1,611 deaths in 2024 of people experiencing homelessness.
This was up from 1,474 deaths in 2023 and 1,313 deaths in 2022.
The Museum of Homelessness has been running the Dying Homeless Project since 2019 and gathers its data each year through freedom of information requests, coroner inquests and memorials submitted by bereaved family members.
While rough sleeping is most associated with homelessness, living in temporary accommodation such as bed and breakfasts, hostels or other short-term housing organised by a local authority is also a form of homelessness.
According to research by the Museum of Homelessness there were 11 children - those aged younger than 18 - included in the data for last year, of which four were babies who had not yet reached their first birthday.
Four others were aged between one and nine-years-old, and two children were aged between 15 and 17, while another's age was unknown.
The researchers said it is likely these figures are lower than the true scale of child deaths and homelessness, as some local authorities might only record when the person who has applied to their local council for homelessness help dies in temporary accommodation, rather than all the members of their family.
The number of children who died in 2024 was up from four in 2023.
The most recent Government figures, published in July, showed the number of households in temporary accommodation in England had climbed to a new record high of 131,140 at the end of March 2025.
The number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 169,050 in March, up year on year from 151,540 and also the highest since records began in 1998.
In January a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Households in Temporary Accommodation said a total of 74 children, mostly babies, had died in recent years in England with temporary accommodation recorded as a possible contributory factor.
Fifty-eight of those who died between April 2019 and March last year were aged under one, the APPG said.
In each of the 74 deaths, temporary accommodation - considered a form of homelessness - was listed as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health, or death.
The Museum of Homelessness said overall, 44% of all the deaths in their data were drug and alcohol-related.
Across the UK's four nations there were 1,142 deaths in England, 211 in Northern Ireland, 168 in Scotland and 90 in Wales.
Total deaths in Scotland and Wales fell year-on-year but Northern Ireland and England both had increases.
Project director, Matthew Turtle, said their data "shows how homeless people continue to be deeply failed".
He added: "We are calling for urgent action from the Government to alleviate this crisis."
Gill Taylor, also from the project, said: "With heavy hearts, we report the deaths of 1,611 people who died whilst homeless in 2024.
"Whilst it is positive that local authorities and safeguarding adult boards appear to be taking the issue more seriously, with better reporting and evidence of improved local partnership working to prevent deaths, turning the tide on this enormous loss of life needs more than better counting.
"We remember with love all those who died and continue our work in solidarity with bereaved loved ones and the homeless community."
Kate Moss, from the Devon and Cornwall based charity Harbour Housing told us that rates of homelessness are definitely on the rise.
She said: "I would say around 3 times as many people came to us last year, presenting as homeless and needing support."
She also told us that, although it's essential for Devon and Cornwall's economy, tourism in the region can negatively impact levels of homelessness.
"A lot of people want to come here on holiday, we do rely largely on tourism, especially in the summer months," she said.
"That means that there is a proportion of accommodation here that is utilised for tourism and holidays, rather than for local people who need homes."
The Government has been contacted for comment.