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Homeless centre reports high death toll
By Stephanie CockroftDecember 30, 2011
A HOMELESS charity says six of its supported adults died last year because of poor living standards and social neglect - the largest death toll witnessed by the organisation in years.
The Vine Day Centre, which supports about 700 homeless and vulnerable adults in Aldershot and Farnborough, said the figure is in line with the increasing number of people using the charity's services.
Susie Porter, centre manager, said it has been some of the hardest 12 months on record for the charity, with more than 100 more people turning to the centre in desperation.
She warned that public attitude needed to change to stop more people living - and dying - as 'outcasts'.
She said: "I think it is the highest death toll we have had in a long time and it's certainly the worst since I started three years ago.
"Although none of those who died were on the streets, none of them were living in suitable accommodation.
"It is a sign of how bad the situation is becoming."
Of the six who died, which included one woman and five men, two suffered from the effects of long-term alcohol abuse, while another died from drug abuse.
Two of the people committed suicide.
A sixth person died after suffering from ill-health and old age.
Susie said that man had no history of substance abuse, but his living conditions, coupled with a lack of healthcare, led to his drastic health decline.
She believes each of the six people might have had a different fate, if they were not 'socially isolated'.
She said: "There is such a stigma attached to being an alcoholic or a drug addict, which makes them become socially disconnected.
"They are often judged for their addictions, which makes it very difficult to come forward and ask for help."
She said the man died from not receiving the right care, after years of isolation.
She said: "By the time we came across him, he was already very unwell and he literally died through self-neglect.
"If all those people were not in the situations they were, it could have been a different story."
Susie believes most have turned to the charity after struggling to find accommodation, which she puts down to changes in the benefit system.
Of the charity's 700 clients, Susie estimates 75% are feeding addictions, while 5% are considered homeless.
The majority are living in unsuitable accommodation, she said.
But she described all of them as living, for one reason or another, in social isolation.
She also fired a warning shot at funding bodies and public authorities, saying she sees no signs of the situation improving.
Susie said: "I cannot see things getting better.
"There is simply not enough housing or flats available around the Aldershot area for these people.
"And funding is being squeezed from everywhere. What the answer is, I do not know.
"But it would be a start for these people to be accepted into society.
"Just because they might have a drug problems, it does not mean they are scum.
"Any bodies who can help must take a very serious look at this situation."
The names of those who died were not released by the charity.
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