The latest report from a group of Hamilton healthcare professionals says one person experiencing homelessness dies every 10 days in the city on average.
The report says 21 people died between June and November last year, bringing the cumulative total of deaths to 91 since records began in 2021.
The group– made up mainly of local physicians– has been collecting data with the goal of reducing mortality and improving health in people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton.
Their latest report says 52 per cent of deaths reported in the six-month period were caused by overdose.
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“This is a stark reflection of the harms associated with toxic drug policies,” the group said in a press release.
“We reiterate long-standing calls for safe and supervised consumptions, safer supply, and other harm reduction strategies aimed at health equity.”
The average age of death recorded was 46, marking a severe difference between that of housed Hamilton residents who have an expected lifespan of 81.
This reinforces the idea that living without housing is itself connected to increased risk of mortality for homeless people.
The group says people are better positioned to access and maintain contact with social and healthcare supports when they have a fixed, permanent address in the community.
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The data also reveals that several people died within 30 days of accessing one or more social and/or healthcare services, highlighting a need for inquiry and intervention to improve system responsiveness and accountability.
“Canada’s homelessness crisis has reached a critical point, and we invite other jurisdictions to characterize local mortality figures as well,” the group said.
“Policy makers at the municipal, provincial, and federal level must understand these deaths as premature, preventable, and connected to conditions of housing deprivation.”
Visit this website to learn more about the group of local healthcare professionals who are recording homelessness mortality data in Hamilton.
