TWENTY one homeless people died in Exeter in 2024, according to a nationwide campaign organisation.

The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) chose the city for a case study as it compiled an investigation into the number of people dying while experiencing homelessness.

The MoH was founded in 2015 by people with direct experience. It pledges education, practical action and fighting injustice.

Now it wants the government to step in to increase spending on affordable housing and provide better support.

Across the country 1,611 deaths were recorded across the UK, an average of four of what the group calls ‘needless deaths’ every day. Drugs were a major factor in deaths around the country, with the number of deaths involving opiates more than doubling and cocaine-related deaths also increasing.

The museum’s report says that in 2024, Exeter experienced a ‘dramatic rise’ in deaths among people experiencing homelessness.

Of the 21 deaths recorded in the city, 15 people were living in supported or temporary accommodation.

Local charity St Petrock’s estimated that between 24 and 35 people slept rough each night in Exeter in 2024, according to the report, a figure comparable to several London boroughs despite Exeter’s smaller size.

Contributing factors included high numbers of people leaving prison into homelessness; a severe shortage of affordable housing and some of the highest eviction rates in the country.

The report goes on: “Ultimately, this means people are living in a cycle of ‘revolving door’ homelessness, in and out of accommodation and only in sporadic contact with the support they need.

“According to local services, this is worsened by a lack of long-term funding and a shortage of physical space to provide drop-in and crisis support, especially during evenings and weekends, when incidents of harm are more likely.

“People all too often have nowhere to go.”

The report also highlights positive responses in Exeter, including the Preventable Deaths Forum which was set up in 2023 and the STAR Project, which works with homeless people with drug dependencies.

It sums up: “Our investigation reveals yet another deeply troubling increase in the number of people who lost their lives whilst experiencing homelessness in the UK.

“Homelessness exposes people to dehumanising living conditions, violence and abuse, severely unequal health outcomes and drastically shortened life expectancy.

“The right policy choices could prevent this.”