Dozens of homeless people died on Edinburgh's streets amid calls for legislation to support drug addicts

Dozens of homeless people have died on the streets of the Capital over the last two years – amid a call for more support in law for those suffering with addiction problems.

New statistics, released by the National Records of Scotland, show that 22 homeless people died in 2017 in the Capital, and the same number in 2018. Edinburgh City Council does not hold official records of homeless deaths but the authority is aware of confirmed cases being drugs-related.

Across Scotland, 359 people died while they were homeless in 2017 and 2018. Scotland had the highest rate of homeless deaths of all UK countries in 2018 – with a rate of 35.9 per million population compared to 16.8 in England and 14.5 in Wales. The rate of homeless deaths in Edinburgh was 42.1 in 2018.

Last month, it was revealed that housing chiefs in the Capital failed to accommodate homeless people almost 1,500 times from 2017 to 2019. In 80 per cent of those cases, the homeless people lost their accommodation through their own actions – including 17 per cent for drug taking.

The Capital’s convener for housing, homelessness and fair work ,Cllr Kate Campbell, said: “Every single one of these deaths is a tragedy and it’s heart-breaking that up to 22 people passed away in Edinburgh while homeless.

“We want to end rough sleeping and so we are working alongside partners, including Streetwork who do street based outreach, to engage with some of the most vulnerable adults in the city – people who may be at real risk of severe ill health.

“We also know that a number of these deaths were drug-related. We need to work across all levels of government to develop strategies and improve legislation so that we are able to support people suffering from addiction, and so that addiction doesn’t end up being an additional barrier for people already struggling to access services and get the support that they need.”

Charities have called on the Scottish Government to commit more funding to support vulnerable people when it sets its budget today.

Nicola Hazelton, Shelter Scotland’s Edinburgh community hub manager, said: “Behind these figures lie individual personal tragedies. People living in desperate situations ultimately failed by the system.

“In today’s budget we’re looking to the Scottish Government to increase its investment in the services which prevent people’s lives spiralling into chaos and homelessness, and to commit to funding social house building.”

The city council has expanded its rapid access accommodation, where homeless people are given a safe place and support to access mental health and other services. The authority now has 65 spaces over three sites and will “continue to develop forms of accommodation that are designed to reduce barriers to accessing support for the most vulnerable”.

Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack said the statistics should be used as a “red flag” to “bring an end to these tragic and wholly avoidable deaths”.

She added: “These Edinburgh statistics for homeless deaths are very disappointing, and sitting above the Scottish average is nothing to be proud of. Although there has been no increase in deaths, the links between homelessness and drug use in our capital is an area of particular concern.”

The Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol Partnership is focusing additional resources on target distribution of overdose reversal drug nalaxone, optimising medication-assisted treatment and target those most at risk.

A spokesperson for the Edinburgh Health and Social Partnership, said: “We work very closely with the Edinburgh Drug and Alcohol Partnership which has been investing additional resource towards supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our city. We support their joint efforts to ensure we’re targeting those who need it most.”