HRB reports latest figures on deaths among people who are homeless  

124 people died while homeless in 2022 

The Health Research Board’s (HRB) latest figures on homeless deaths show more than 10 people died per month. While this is a decrease from 133 deaths in 2021, the number of deaths has risen by 31% since 2019.*  

In 2022, men accounted for 81% of the deaths, with a median age of 47 years. Women had a median age of 40.5 years. 

Most of these deaths (57%) occurred in Dublin city and county, with 7% in Cork (city and county).**  

Fifty-seven per cent (71 people) were alone when they died, and 36 people died in a public place. Sixteen people had been sleeping rough in the period leading up to their death.  

Mental ill health was present among 47 people who died, and most of the deceased (84%) had a history of substance use.  

Commenting on the report, HRB Chief Executive Dr Gráinne Gorman, said: “Our report today highlights the complexity of homelessness and the difficulties faced by some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Health Research Board captures and analyses this data to better understand the circumstances of these deaths and provide evidence that informs harm reduction strategies and future policies to help prevent them.” 

Cause of death 

Almost two in three deaths were non-poisoning deaths. Six in 10 of these were classified as medical, most commonly cardiovascular conditions. Four in ten were traumatic deaths, primarily due to falls. 

Over a third were due to poisoning (overdose), with 84% of poisoning deaths among men, and 16% among women. The most common drug groups implicated were opioids, followed by benzodiazepines, cocaine, and alcohol. 

Polysubstance poisoning accounted for seven in 10 poisoning deaths, and the proportion of these was the same among males and females.  

Cathy Kelleher, Research Officer at HRB, said: “We know from our data that serious medical conditions, problem drug use and mental ill health were still among the additional challenges faced by the people who died while homeless, with many people impacted by more than one of these at the time of death.” 

Trends 2019 to 2022 

Between 2019 and 2022*, deaths among people who were homeless increased by 31%.

The median age rose from 40 years in 2019 to 46 years in 2022. Men made up the majority of deaths throughout the four-year period.  

Cathy Kelleher comments:  'While the circumstances surrounding these deaths are similar to previous years, the increase in the number of people who have died while homeless is significant. The HRB will continue to monitor these trends over time and inform policy makers and service providers.” 

ENDS 

For more information, infographics or interviews please contact: Suzanne Kenny, Communications Officer, Health Research Board, e skenny@hrb.ie m 085 8500494 

Notes for editors   

The Health Research Board (HRB) is Ireland’s lead funding agency supporting innovative health research and delivering data and evidence that improves people’s health and patient care. We are committed to putting people first, and ensuring data and evidence are used in policy and practice to overcome health challenges, advance health systems, and benefit society and economy. 

The data in this report were collected using the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) methodology. The source of the data is closed coroner files. The NDRDI reports with a time lag, as it must wait for the detailed death investigation process to be completed and the inquest held. The NDRDI is managed by the National Health Information Systems Unit in the Health Research Board and is funded by the Departments of Health and Justice.  

The NDRDI was established in 2005 in response to the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008; specifically, Action 67 - ‘to develop an accurate mechanism for recording the number of drug-related deaths in Ireland’. The NDRDI enables Ireland to meet its mandatory reporting requirements to the European Union and United Nations, as well as being used widely to provide evidence for national policy and planning. 

* These figures occur in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health measures which began in March 2020.The largest annual increase occurred between 2019 and 2020, the number of people who died increased from 95 in 2019 to 127 in 2020. The number of deaths decreased from 133 deaths in 2021 to 124 in 2022.  

**The small numbers of deaths per county outside of Dublin and Cork means that no county breakdown can be provided.