Exploring the causes of death among people experiencing homelessness in Wales

Today, the ADR Wales Housing and Homelessness research team has released a Data Insight on the causes of death among people experiencing homelessness in Wales.

While annual estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provide the primary source of information on this issue in Wales, this analysis investigates the potential of using linked administrative data as an additional resource. It draws on data acquired by ADR Wales, focusing on individuals who have sought assistance from local authority homeless services.  

The research compares causes of death among people approaching the homeless services to ONS estimates and findings from other administrative data studies in Wales. The nature and extent of underlying causes of death – particularly those related to accidents and suicide – were found to vary:

• Combined, accidents, cancers, and heart disease accounted for 59% of deaths among people approaching statutory homeless services, compared to 55% in ONS estimates and 39% in other studies
• Though accidents were the most frequently reported cause of death across all studies, the levels of reporting varied
• Deaths due to suicide showed the most significant variation between studies
• Illness-related deaths, rather than external causes, were generally more prevalent in data from statutory homeless services and other studies compared to ONS estimates.

These findings illustrate how researchers define homelessness, as well as the sources of data being analysed, can shape the evidence generated about this group of people.

Read the full Data Insight.