Homeless individuals have significantly shorter lifespans (often dying decades earlier) due to extreme environmental exposure (cold/heat), poor nutrition, lack of sleep, inadequate hygiene, untreated chronic illnesses (like heart disease, cancer, TB), higher rates of addiction (alcohol/drugs), mental health crises, and violence/trauma, all compounded by systemic failures in housing and healthcare, leading to preventable deaths from treatable conditions and "deaths of despair" (overdoses, suicide).
The unhoused population's average life expectancy is 15 to 20 years lower than their housed counterparts. The average age of life expectancy when homeless is 48 years, according to Health Care for the Homeless. Unhoused individuals are also twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
Scout out free hot meals in your area. Look up places to get what you need for hygiene, personal care, and protection from the elements. If you need scarves, hats, gloves, and clothes in general don't be shy at donation centers. You deserve to have your basic needs met, and that is what they are there to provide.
In England and Wales, the average age of death of people experiencing homelessness is estimated at around 43-45 years.
Drug and alcohol overdose continued to be the leading cause of death among unhoused individuals in 2023, accounting for 45% of all deaths.
Globally, Ischaemic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) remains the world's biggest killer, but regionally, Dementia (including Alzheimer's) has recently become the leading cause of death in countries like Australia, surpassing heart disease for females and overall, while heart disease leads for males. Other top causes globally include stroke, respiratory infections, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. In whatever setting homeless adults are studied, alcoholism is the most frequent single disorder diagnosed. (The exception is women who are homeless with their families.)
The highest rates for lifetime literal homelessness were found in the UK (7.7%) and United States (6.2%), with the lowest rate in Germany (2.4%), and intermediate rates in Italy (4.0%) and Belgium (3.4%).
People living on the streets could wake up in a park, doorway or anywhere they feel safe. This is often early in the morning so that they can be alert as people begin to fill the city. At this time, it can still be dark and cold so many will begin their day looking for places to get warm, clean up or have breakfast.
Homelessness
People experiencing houselessness need ten fundamental items: clean undergarments, weather-appropriate clothing, personal hygiene supplies, first aid materials, non-perishable food, water storage, identification documents, bedding, sturdy bags for belongings, and connection to supportive community resources.
Through out the 56 days, the Council has a duty to work with you to take reasonable steps to secure accommodation. After the 56 days the Council may be satisfied that they have done everything it can to help you find accommodation.
Homelessness poses profound mental and emotional strains. Daily stressors, such as ensuring personal safety and finding a place to sleep, coupled with the instability and trauma of being unhoused, can increase an individual's vulnerability to psychological conditions, distress, and substance use disorders.
These estimates indicate that approximately one in 10 adults ages 18 to 25, and one in 30 youth ages 13 to 17 will experience homelessness each year. This is likely an undercount due to varying definitions of homelessness and challenges with contacting unhoused people, particularly unhoused youth.
Take Care of Your Basic Needs
Surviving homelessness means taking extra care to ensure your basic needs—water, food, rest, and basic hygiene—are met. This is the foundation you'll build on later. Ask around about local food banks, community fridges, or church meal programs in your area.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis by JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association), consisting principally of Canadian, German, and American studies, found that 2/3rds (67%) of the unhoused had a mental health disorder, with a 77% lifetime mental health disorder prevalence among those who are or have ...
Without a place to call home, they have no other choice but to wander the streets to access support, find food, to keep warm or simply to keep safe.
For those living on the streets, it's not a question of how much to eat; it is more a necessity to eat whenever you can. Three meals a day is nearly impossible. Two meals are often unattainable, and for many, there are days with no food at all.
Constant Movement Leads to Day Sleeping
It's not uncommon to witness people experiencing homelessness sleeping during the day because they weren't able to sleep at night safely. Some individuals may use drugs, particularly stimulants like methamphetamine, to stay awake at night.
Philippines, Manila. Manila is the city with the highest estimated rate of homelessness in the world with 3 million homeless. There are a total of 4.5 million homeless people throughout the Phillipines.
Lack of social housing: In the UK there is a dearth of social housing, which means Local Authorities do not have enough houses to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
And London stands out as a city where the rates of homelessness are very high. Our analysis found that there are 202,587 people who are homeless in London. This is the equivalent of 1 in 45 people and means that London accounts for over half of the total homeless population across England.
Drug and alcohol overdose continues to be the leading cause of death among unhoused individuals in 2022, accounting for 37% of all deaths. Overdose was the leading cause of death among males and females, and among Whites, Latinx, and Blacks.
Results: Overall, STI prevalence ranged from 2.1% to 52.5%. A composite STI prevalence was most often reported (n = 7), with rates ranging from 7.3% to 39.9%. Reported prevalence of chlamydia/gonorrhea (7.8%) was highest among younger homeless adult women.