Report reveals homeless Australians face life expectancy gap of 40 years

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveals that people who experience homelessness in Australia have an average life expectancy of just 46 years, compared to 83 years for the general population. This stark difference highlights homelessness as a major public health issue. The report, covering deaths from 2012 to 2022, shows nearly 12,500 deaths among those who accessed homelessness services. The leading causes of death were suicide and accidental poisoning, indicating deeper social and health challenges faced by this population. This report is the first of its kind in Australia and aims to bring attention to the life expectancy gap linked to homelessness. It calls for better monitoring of homeless deaths and increased investment in solutions to address the underlying causes of homelessness.