Homeless deaths Oxford: Another dies as review findings issued

A 34-year-old Polish man was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital on Sunday with Sepsis, before dying the day after, according to the City Council.

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It follows a spate of deaths in Oxford this winter, which saw the homeless community hit by as many as six deaths on the streets, between November and February.

READ AGAIN: Churchyard man was sleeping rough

At least five people are thought to have died in a spate of deaths, before a homeless man was found in a churchyard in February.

And a 'devastating' report the same month estimated that 33 homeless people died in the city between 2013 and 2017, and suggested the area was one of the country’s worst hot spots.

FULL REPORT: Homeless deaths: Oxford second worst in country - 33 in 5 years

Oxfordshire's homeless deaths in numbers, according to the report. Graphic produced with Canva

No further details have been revealed about the latest victim’s identity but new information has been released about five deaths in the city.

Councillor Linda Smith, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Leisure and Housing, said she was 'saddened' to hear of the death, and explained: “The man had been sleeping rough in the city for some time. Our outreach team, OxSPOT, was engaged with this man and attempting to help him into accommodation at the time of his death.

“I would like to extend my condolences to his family and friends. The council will make no further comment on his personal circumstances out of respect to them.”

Meanwhile, the council says Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board (OSAB), who were asked to undertake an independent investigation into five deaths, found that 'most' were accommodated when they died and those who were rough sleeping 'either died of natural causes or had pre-existing health conditions not directly associated with their homelessness'.

READ AGAIN: Council to 'review tragedy on our streets'

Ms Smith added: “The OSAB executive board also agreed to review the systems in place to help people experiencing homelessness or in supported accommodation but who may have unmet health, care and support needs.

“We will ask OSAB whether this latest death could be included in the review."

She continued: “Nobody should have to sleep rough in Oxford, and we work hard to get people off the streets because we know that homelessness kills.

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“Rough sleeping is the visible tip of a much wider national housing crisis, and we take homelessness prevention very seriously. Any death of someone experiencing homelessness is a death too many.

“That’s why we recently committed an extra £1.3 million in new funding to prevent and reduce rough sleeping in Oxford, on top of the £1.75 million we had already budgeted for 2019/20."

ALSO READ: Oxford homelessness in numbers - and the services available

Ms Smith said the funding would allow the council to provide up to 219 beds in its adult homeless pathway and convert a former jobcentre in Floyds Row into an assessment hub and emergency shelter for up to 60 more people, while the council was planning to 'transform' its homelessness services over the next few years.