Deaths of homeless people show harsh realities and complex health challenges

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The causes of death among 82 people who died while homeless in 2004 are included in a report issued today by Public Health - Seattle & King County. This summary illustrates the complex health challenges faced by the homeless and demonstrates the necessity for comprehensive solutions that integrate housing, human service and health care needs of this vulnerable population.

The report, 2004 Annual Report on Homeless Deaths, is available on the web at www.kingcounty.gov/health/hch.

"These 82 deaths sadden our community on many levels," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Many people know the names and faces behind the statistics—they were friends, family members, and patients. But this news also reflects a larger injustice, and it strengthens my support and resolve in the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, which will create the housing and supportive services in our community necessary to end homelessness."

The report provides demographic and cause of death information on 82 individuals who died in 2004 in King County while homeless. The average age of death was 47 years.  The cases included in the report were those under the jurisdiction of the King County Medical Examiner (KCME).   They include people who died on the streets, in encampments, in homeless shelters, and other locations.  The deaths do not represent all homeless deaths in King County because not all homeless deaths come under the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction.

"The deaths described in this report reflect the tip of an iceberg. Below the surface are the widespread health disparities among those who are homeless, and which too often contribute to an early death," said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Major causes of death included acute intoxication (24%), trauma (18%), and cardiovascular disease (12%). Like previous studies on homeless deaths both locally and nationally, the causes of death in 2004 continue to reflect the many harsh realities and risks faced by those who live on the streets and in shelters—chronic health conditions, homicides, suicides, and the troubling role of alcohol and drugs. Reflecting the fact that homelessness is not just an issue of the urban core, 29% of the deaths occurred in communities outside the City of Seattle.

As part of its commitment to addressing conditions contributing to homelessness, including health-related issues and the lack of available and affordable housing, King County is taking a leadership role in the implementation of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, a comprehensive regional plan.  Sims serves as co-chair on the Governing Board of the Committee to End Homelessness, working with other community leaders to craft new approaches for eliminating homelessness.

For more information on the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, visit www.cehkc.org.  For more information on Health Care for the Homeless Network, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/hch.

# # #