New figures from a report released by the Museum of Homelessness have revealed that the number of people who have died while homeless in the UK has hit a record high.
55% of these deaths have been reported as a ‘death of despair’ – a term which refers to a drug, alcohol, or suicide-related death.
The vast majority of these have been attributed towards the increase in circulation of synthetic cannabis (spice), and nitazenes in the UK.
In conversation with Gee, 26, a woman struggling with addiction, she said: “I’ve been homeless for almost three years. Using has been my only escape.
“I’ve been to the social, I’ve been to the charities, I’ve been to all of these shelters – it’s here for one night and gone the next – just makes the next night feel worse
“Nobody in the p****** government has a clue what it’s like to sleep on the pavement, day in, day out
“If they really wanted to help someone like me, they’d make us places we could actually stay, get f****** help, get f****** better.”
As funding for drug misuse treatment services has decreased by £190 million in the last decade, charitable organisations have struggled to maintain operations, with more than 20 UK-based charities having entirely closed or cut services in the first half of 2025 alone.
Although the Labour government have increased the public health grant to £3.9 billion, a 3% increase on that of last year, the ring-fenced nature of the grant has simultaneously allowed for an almost 15% decline in services devoted towards substance misuse.
This decline, alongside the fact that people experiencing homelessness cannot currently seek long-term help for addiction under the NHS has forced charities to the forefront in providing substance abuse treatment.
But with spaces in rehabilitation centres already stretched thin, many find themselves with little help.
In discussion with the South West Londoner, Director of Operations at the leading homelessness charity SPEAR, Mark Taylor, emphasised the importance of stability in recovery.
Taylor said: “To end homelessness for good we need more genuinely affordable homes, and a strategy that meets the demand from people sleeping rough.”
Currently, this need for accessible long-term accommodation for addicts experiencing homelessness continues to be overlooked.
In conversation with Keegan, 19, who is currently homeless, he said: “If I had somewhere I could stay for a bit, then yeah, I think I could really have a real shot at getting clean.
“But when you know you’re going to be back out in a night or two, spice is a pretty good way to stop thinking about it… numb it.
“I never did drugs before I aged out [of the care system], I do drugs to deal with me being homeless.
“I want to stop but I don’t know how.”
Gill Taylor, a strategic lead at the Museum of Homelessness said: “There has been a systematic failure to invest in adequate access to formal treatment.
“We are seeing more drug-related deaths and more drug-related homeless deaths than ever before.
“Urgent action is needed. People experiencing homelessness often cannot access rehab support because they don’t have an address to return to afterwards.
“Local and national government need to do more to make accessing help around drugs and alcohol easy, accessible and sustainable.”
With the annual budget expected to be announced next month, drug treatment charities continue to hope for further funding.
Matthew, 46, a man who is currently homeless, said: “If I could say anything to the prime minister, I’d say that you’ve failed us.
“You’ve failed us in every way possible, because you’re supposed to help us get out of this situation
“And right now, yeah, I think it’s more likely than not that I’ll die homeless.”
Featured image credit: Jon Tyson via Unsplash
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