Alarming new statistics reveal a worrying trend in the growing number of deaths among those who are or have been homeless, says Catching Lives.

In the seven months of this year alone, the Canterbury charity has recorded seven fatalities among clients or former clients.

This compares to six in the whole of 2017 and seven in both 2016 and 2015.

The latest death was that of Simon Lacey, a man in his early 40s who had been suffering from a long-term heart condition and died in hospital.

He was an 'on-off' visitor to the Catching Lives day centre in Station Road East over several years, but had recently moved into accommodation provided by Porchlight.

Catching Lives manager Terry Gore says all the deaths have links in some way to the victims' lifestyles and homelessness.

The list of casualties began earlier this year with Martin Ripley, followed by Robert Wallis, Shelly Pollard, Kevin Tridgell, Jason Cox and Wesley Gurney.

"None of these people are what you would call elderly, " said Mr Gore.

"But you can track a link to their lifestyle and homelessness to their poor health and death.

"The fact is that living on the streets is not likely to lead to good health outcomes."

Mr Gore believes inadequate health support for those with "chaotic" lifestyles is partly to blame, but is working to establish a better voluntary service at the day centre.

"With these type of clients with multiple complex needs, you can't make doctor's or hospital appointments in the usual way because it just doesn't work for them."

Mr Gore has welcomed new government money which is funding the deployment of three outreach workers and the extension to night shelter opening.

But he is also suspicious the extra money is being used to manipulate street homelessness figures and give a false impression.

"The fact is that these shelters will now conveniently be open at the time the official rough sleeper figures are counted.

"As a housing minister candidly told me, 'it's all about quick wins', but I don't think it will accurately reflect the real homeless situation."

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