Being Homeless in Australia Linked to Dying 40 Years Early

Homelessness: A Growing Health Crisis in Australia

Homelessness has now taken the lead as Australia’s largest and most damning disparity in life expectancy.

A Landmark Report

A recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare looked at the deaths of those seeking help from specialist homelessness services in their last year of life between 2012-2022.

The sheer number of deaths – around 12,500 over the ten-year period – is staggering, as is the upward increase over time. But so are the disparities.

What Gets Counted Counts

For too long, the death toll and enormous life expectancy gap associated with homelessness has been largely invisible in national data.

Deaths of people who have experienced homelessness rarely make it into newspaper death notices or obituaries, nor in national mortality data.

A Landmark Snapshot

The report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is the first of its kind in Australia and confronts us with a sobering snapshot.

The figure of almost 1,500 deaths in the 2021-2022 financial year (the most recent year of data reported) is confronting. It is higher than Australia’s annual road toll death.

Deaths of Despair

These latest statistics reflect what has been described in international literature as “deaths of despair”.

This term refers to deaths from drug overdoses, suicide and alcohol-related disease among people with compounded social and economic disadvantage.

Compounding Health Conditions

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report shows a litany of other preventable conditions are also killing those who have experienced homelessness. These include coronary heart disease, lung cancer and diabetes.

Our Research

Sadly, these statistics do not come as a surprise.

They echo evidence from recent studies in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Are We Getting Better or Going Backwards?

We can’t reverse the trend revealed in this gloomy new data unless we also challenge the increasing “normalisation” of homelessness in our country.

Conclusion

Homelessness is a growing health crisis in Australia, and it is imperative that we take immediate action to address the root causes of this issue. We must challenge the increasing normalisation of homelessness and invest in ending homelessness in this country.

FAQs

Q: What is the main cause of death among people experiencing homelessness?

A: The main causes of death among people experiencing homelessness are suicide and accidental poisoning (including by drug overdoses).

Q: What is the life expectancy gap between people experiencing homelessness and the general population?

A: The average age of death for the general population in Australia is 83, while the average age of death for people experiencing homelessness is 46.

Q: What is the impact of homelessness on health?

A: Homelessness has a profound impact on health, with people experiencing homelessness more likely to develop chronic diseases and die prematurely.

Q: What can be done to address the issue of homelessness?

A: To address the issue of homelessness, we must challenge the increasing normalisation of homelessness and invest in ending homelessness in this country. This includes providing rapid access to housing, addressing the root causes of homelessness, and providing support services to help people get back on their feet.