Edinburgh has highest death rate among homeless people as 'shocking' new figures revealed
Edinburgh has the highest death rate among homeless people in Scotland, new figures have revealed.
Official statistics show that an estimated 40 people died in Edinburgh while experiencing homelessness in 2024. Across the country, the total number of deaths among homeless people was estimated at 231.
The figures show that 78 per cent of those who died were male and 22 per cent female. Around half were under 45, and the most common age group for both males and females was between 35 and 44.
Glasgow saw the most deaths - 44 - but the National Records of Scotland said Edinburgh had the highest rate of deaths at 95.4 per million, compared with the Scottish average of 55.2 per million.
Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy and communications at homeless charity Crisis Scotland, called the figures “completely unacceptable”.
She said: “Levels of homelessness, and rough sleeping in particular, have risen since the pandemic to alarming highs. We had hoped to see a significant decrease but it’s shocking that progress has stalled and the number of deaths in 2024 was almost the same as the previous year.
“Homelessness is traumatic. Living in temporary accommodation where you don’t feel safe, or sleeping in a freezing car, or moving between the homes of friends and acquaintances just to have a roof over your head, takes a huge toll on people’s mental and physical health. A laser focus on ending all forms of homelessness is needed to drive down these numbers."
She said Crisis was calling on all political parties to commit to ending homelessness by 2040 in their upcoming manifestos.
"This means building more truly affordable homes in the places that need them the most, giving wraparound help to people much earlier on, ideally before they become homeless, and being more strategic and impactful with how money is spent – making sure that it reduces homelessness across Scotland.
“These deaths are not inevitable. We know how to end homelessness for good – we just need the political will to make this happen.”
Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: “It is shocking that 40 people have lost their lives on our streets. The fact that they were homeless does not excuse this tragedy in any way.
“Were it not for the utterly unsustainable housing crisis and drug death situation in Edinburgh, this could have been avoided.
“The Capital consistently has the lowest social housing and grant funding share in Scotland, while representing the vast majority of population growth. NHS Lothian is overwhelmed and our social housing list has once again been frozen. This cannot go on.
“SNP ministers must do more to deliver housing stock which is far behind schedule, and tackle drug crime which is soaring out of control.”
And Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: “No one should die without or because they don’t have a safe place to call home. One death is one too many. These figures should shame us all.
“Behind every statistic is a person who was failed by systems that should have been there to support them much earlier, and to prevent homelessness in the first place.
“Our housing market is rigged in favour of those who already have wealth while thousands of homes sit empty or are treated as investment assets. Investing in social housing and support services is necessary if we are serious about building a system that supports people out of homelessness.”