Data Insight: Homelessness and mortality in Northern Ireland
Categories: Data Insights, ADR Northern Ireland, Health & wellbeing, Housing & communities
25 August 2026
This Data Insight analyses over a decade of administrative data from Northern Ireland (NI) to explore associations between homelessness and mortality.
Summary
This Data Insight presents findings from a research study which uses population-wide, anonymised, linked administrative data to examine the association between homelessness and mortality in Northern Ireland (NI).
This study shows that people named on a homelessness application die younger and disproportionately more from deaths of despair – deaths related to suicide, alcohol or substances – compared to those who never present as homeless. This pattern was especially evident among those who were younger and male.
This research is part of a wider ADR NI project investigating the health of people experiencing homelessness.
What we found
Key findings from the research included:
- 1 in 6 deaths among those presenting as homeless were deaths of despair.
- In young adults presenting as homeless, 68% of deaths in males and 53% of deaths in females were deaths of despair.
- Deaths of despair were proportionally higher in sole applicants.
Read the full publication to learn more.
Why it matters
NI has the highest rates of statutory homelessness (per thousand households) compared to other UK nations. UK-based studies have examined mortality among those experiencing homelessness using differing and limited definitions of homelessness, such as rough sleepers or those with no known address in death or hospital records, which omits the broader population presenting to statutory homelessness services. This Data Insight presents results from individual-level, linked administrative data and highlights the substantial mortality inequalities among individuals named on homelessness applications to the Housing Executive.
The results show that individuals named on applications for homelessness assistance are more likely to die from deaths of despair, including death by suicide, and substance and alcohol-related deaths. These deaths comprise a large share of deaths among those aged under 35, especially among males and sole applicants, but are substantially higher across all demographic groups within those who presented, compared to the general population of NI.
Improving our understanding of factors associated with increased mortality risk among people experiencing homelessness will help shape homelessness policy development in NI and guide evidence-based, targeted support services. It is likely that interventions beyond housing provision are needed to address co-occurring and complex social and health needs in this population. The disproportionately high share of deaths of despair among homeless presenters underscores the critical need for integrated mental health and substance use disorder services.
