Labour must end policies causing deaths of thousands of homeless people: 'Every person was precious'

A vigil was held to remember those who died while homeless and rough sleeping as charities call for the reversal of cuts to welfare and housing. The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) held the vigil to remember those who died while homeless across the UK in 2023. The vigil took place outside Downing Street. 

The charity is calling on the Labour government to reverse policies that have caused thousands upon thousands of preventable deaths in recent years.

• Over half of London working parents use food banks, study finds: ‘Is this the country we live in?
• DWP wants to send job coaches into mental health hospitals. Here’s why it’s a ‘dangerous’ idea

Members of the public gathered to read the names and remember those who died.

This week more than 1,400 people died while homeless in the UK last year, according to new research from the MoH.

The research from the charity’s Dying Homeless Project shows that the number of homeless people who died in 2023 was 1,474, which is a 12% increase on the numbers recorded in 2022. 

The number of people who died while rough sleeping – defined by the government as people bedded in streets, tents or bus shelters – surged by 42% in contrast with a 27% increase in the total number of rough sleepers.

The Museum of Homelessness’ Dying Homeless Project uses a rigorous verification process to arrive at the final figures, including analysis of information from coroners’ enquiries, media coverage, family testimony and freedom of information requests to verify details of each case.

Gill Taylor, strategic lead for the Dying Homeless Project, said: “The vigil is a moment of reflection that marks the publishing of the findings of the Dying Homeless Project and also a call to action to end homelessness.

“The names of 176 people were read out, all those whose names were shared as part of the investigation. It’s a moment of silence remembered all those whose names were unknown.”

Taylor said the Labour government needs to reverse the “decimation of the welfare and household infrastructure” that the Tories inflicted for close to 15 years. 

This includes a renewed commitment to building social housing, rent controls and regulation of exempt and temporary accommodation.

“Our findings point to a crisis in healthcare that follows existing patterns of inequality across the UK, hitting towns and cities in the North of England, Scotland and Wales especially hard disproportionate deaths from suicide and drug-related causes. So we are demanding an increase to the availability of harm reduction and community-led crisis support.

“Every person who died was valuable and precious. That they passed prematurely and often preventably is a tragedy that cannot now be changed. But if meaningful action is taken by the new government then future deaths can be prevented.”

The Museum of Homelessness has existed for a decade but only last year found a permanent home in Finsbury Park, London.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously told the Big Issue: “Every one of these deaths is a tragedy and is a damning indictment of the disgraceful rise in homelessness in recent years which has a devastating impact.

“We are taking action by setting up a dedicated cross-government group, chaired by the deputy prime minister, to develop a long-term strategy to get us back on track to end homelessness.

“Councils and their partners deliver vital work to tackle rough sleeping including drug and alcohol treatment and wrap around support. Funding allocations will be set out following the budget.”

Big Issue is demanding an end to extreme poverty. Will you ask your MP to join us?

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.