OVERDOSES, DISEASE CAUSE OF HALF THE DEATHS OF B.C. HOMELESS PEOPLE

Overdoses and chronic diseases were the cause of half the deaths
among homeless people in B.C. over the last two years.

According to figures released by the B.C. coroner's office, 27 of the
56 people who had been living on the street or in shelters died of
either "natural disease processes" or poisoning from alcohol or
drugs. Other causes of death included being hit by blunt objects
(which includes car accidents), suicide, and stabbing.

The report, like many studies done of homeless deaths in North
America and Europe, showed that people who are homeless died younger
than people in the general population. The average age of death
ranges from 41 to 48 in various studies.

"That's not surprising," said University of B.C. professor Jim
Frankish, whose research specialty is homelessness. "If you're older
and you have congestive heart failure, being on the street would not
be helpful."

Most studies estimate that the homeless die at three or four times
the rate of the general population for their age group.

That's not only because they're homeless. Many homeless people suffer
from the effects of drug use, may have an HIV or AIDS infection, and
might also be mentally ill, which compromises their ability to take
care of their health.

Chris Giroux, a Vancouver binner, died in April last year after he
overdosed on heroin -- his friends think it was a mistake, since
Giroux generally used crystal meth or crack -- and then fell forward
into a dumpster and suffocated. He was 41.

Frankish said that's why it's important for policy makers and the
public not to fool themselves into thinking that just getting people
indoors is going to solve the problem.

"Just putting them in housing, they'll live a little longer than they
would if they were outside but they will still die prematurely," said
Frankish. To increase the quality of their health and the length of
their lives, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness need
a lot of support to help them avoid infections, minimize the impact
of addictions and take care of their health.

The B.C. statistics, which were produced at the request of another
media outlet, indicated that homeless people were only 20 per cent
more likely to die than those of their age in the general population.

The number is lower than in most studies because the 56 deaths were
compared to a larger sample. In this case, the deaths were compared
to 12,000 people who were not just homeless, but at risk of homelessness.

Most other studies compare the number of deaths only to the
population of homeless people who have been in contact with a health
agency or homeless service.

Homeless people in the United States have higher death rates than
those in Canada, which studies have attributed to three different
causes: There are fewer homicides in Canada (the prime cause of death
among homeless young people). Canada has fewer war veterans, a group
that has more complicated health problems and that tends to show up
in high numbers among the homeless. And Canada has a better health care system.

Seattle had 110 deaths among homeless people in 2006, the last year
for which figures are available.