The homeless people whose death could be recorded in 2020 died on average at the age of 48 years, against 79 for the rest of the population, according to a count published this Wednesday by the collective "The dead of the street Which analyzes these deaths each year.
According to the “non-exhaustive” data collected by this collective, 587 people living on the streets or in temporary accommodation died in 2020, including at least one in four of violent deaths (assault, suicide, drowning, accident).
"The weight of time spent on the street"
Among these 587 people, 24% had spent more than ten years wandering, specifies the collective in a press release.
"Street deaths" also recorded the deaths in 2020 of 81 other people who had experienced a period of homelessness, and who died on average at the age of 58 years.
"People who have experienced a journey to the street even once they have entered a home always suffer the weight of time spent in the street which impacts their health and the average age of their death", explains Julien Ambard, epidemiologist.
"Sustainable and sustained" measures
At the start of the pandemic, the government took emergency measures in terms of temporary accommodation.
However, "it is not enough to take punctual measures, however important they may be to reduce the mortality of homeless people, they must be sustainable and supported over time", believes "The street deaths".
The collective recommends ensuring access to housing for vulnerable populations and preventing the loss of housing by ensuring in particular a guaranteed income for 18-25 year olds.
In 2019, at least 531 homeless people had died, on average by the age of 49, according to the same source.
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