79 homeless deaths recorded in first half of 2023: TPH
Posted September 28, 2023 6:07 pm.
Last Updated September 28, 2023 6:10 pm.
Toronto Public Health says 79 unhoused people have died in the first six months of the year and almost half the known causes of death were drug related.
While the number is lower than the 92 deaths reported from the same timeframe in 2022, it is higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Officials say almost half – 46 per cent – of the reported deaths among people experiencing homelessness in the first half of the year were due to drug toxicity.
“A large portion of drug toxicity deaths stem from the toxic, unregulated drug supply. The use of highly potent opioids combined with unexpected substances are significantly increasing the risk of overdose in Toronto,” TPH officials said in a statement.
The other leading causes of death for people experiencing homelessness in 2023 include cancer, accidents and suicides.
Officials add 38 per cent of deaths reported are listed as unknown or pending, meaning the number of deaths for each cause may rise once the coroner’s reports are received.
People experiencing homelessness are at an increased risk of dying prematurely. In 2021, the median age of death for the general population in Toronto was 78 for males and 85 for females. In comparison for the first half of 2023, the median age of death of people experiencing homlessness was 52 for males and 48 for females.
