Up to 37 homeless people in Salford have died since 2013

An estimated 37 people died over the past nine years while sleeping rough in Salford, new figures have revealed.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that there were 29 identified deaths of homeless people in the area between 2013 and 2021, the last year for which there is data.

However there were an additional 10 estimated deaths on the streets in Salford over the same period.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “A freezing doorway, a bed in an emergency hostel, or a flimsy tent are no substitute for a home.

“It is utterly awful and unacceptable that two people die every day without any where safe to live – and this number is rising.

“Our frontline services are seeing more people who’ve run out of options, are facing homelessness, and the very real possibility of sleeping rough.

“This is going to be one of the toughest winters yet as so many people battle rising rents while housing benefit stays frozen.”

The ONS reports and estimated 741 homeless people died in England and Wales in 2021.

This was 54% higher than when records began in 2013 and equates to two people dying every day.

James Tucker, Data and Analysis for Social Care and Health Division, Office for National Statistics said: “Any death in these circumstances is a tragedy and our estimates are designed to help inform the work of everyone seeking to protect this highly vulnerable section of our community.”

The North West had one of the highest numbers of deaths registered in 2021 of any region. There were 114 estimated deaths of homeless people that years – 15.4% of the total number.