Yahoo News Five people died while homeless in Stirling last year as latest figures published
It is estimated that five people died while homeless in Stirling last year, down by three on the previous year, according to the latest figures.
Figures published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that in 2023, the deaths of four homeless people were identified, with NRS estimating that five deaths occurred across the Stirling Council area.
In 2022, Stirling saw seven deaths identified with eights total deaths estimated.
Beth Watson, NRS senior assistant statistician, said: “Our estimate shows the number of deaths among people experiencing homelessness in 2023 is similar to the level in 2022. Homeless deaths are at a higher level now compared to the 164 deaths in 2017, when these statistics were first collected.
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“Half of homeless deaths in 2023 were people aged under 45, with the most common age group for both female and male deaths being 35 to 44.”
According to the figures, Stirling’s estimated death rate per million of the population in 2023 was 65.2 – down from 112.9 the prior year.
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There were no identified or estimated deaths in 2021.
However, in 2020 six deaths were recorded with statisticians estimating that seven people died. In 2019, five deaths were recorded with another one estimated to have taken place.
A single death was registered in 2018 whilst there were none recorded in 2017.
In the Clackmannanshire Council region, the number of deaths in 2023 rose slightly from the 2022 number. Three deaths were recorded, compared to two the prior year.
Housing charity Shelter called for more to be done to tackle Scotland's housing crisis following the publication of the report.
Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said: “People should not be dying with nowhere safe and permanent to call home, but that is the grim reality of Scotland’s housing emergency.
“Earlier this year the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency but we’ve yet to see the kind of urgent, radical, response we need to end it.
“If ministers are serious about tackling Scotland’s housing emergency then they need to use the forthcoming budget to address the chronic shortage of social homes, and make sure failing local homelessness services have the resources they need to do their job.”
Nationally, an estimated 242 people died while homeless in Scotland last year – down by two on the 2022 figure.
The number nationally who died from drug misuse deaths whilst experiencing homelessness increased from 89 to 100. Drug misuse accounted for 41-per cent of all estimated deaths while homeless last year.
Men accounted for the majority of homeless deaths, at 79-per cent, with women accounting for 21-per cent.
