KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, King County Executive Ron Sims and Public Health – Seattle & King County issued a study reviewing the causes of death among homeless people in 2003. The information will help the County meet its goal to end homelessness in ten years.
The study, entitled King County 2003 Homeless Death Review, is available on the web at www.metrokc.gov/health/hchn.
“Even one homeless death is unacceptable for a society like ours,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “We are committed to improving the health of all of our residents, but this information about the deaths of some of the most vulnerable people in our community will help us identify services and support needed to meet our goal to end homelessness in ten years.”
The study identified 77 individuals who died in 2003 in King County while homeless. The average age of death was 47 years. The cases reviewed were those under the jurisdiction of the King County Medical Examiner (KCME). The study does not include other homeless deaths that may have occurred in the community, such as when a homeless individual died of a diagnosable cause while under the care of a health care provider.
Major causes of death included acute intoxication (26%), cardiovascular disease (17%) and homicide (9%). Just over half of the deaths (55%) occurred outdoors. One of the most notable findings of the report is that many of those studied experienced the burden of several illnesses prior to their death. On average, decedents had an average of three health conditions identified, with some having as many as eight different ones. Sixty-eight percent had either current use or history of alcohol/substance abuse, 53% had cardiovascular disease, 50% had a gastrointestinal condition, 32% had a pulmonary condition, and 25% had a mental health condition.
“This study reveals the complex challenges to health and well being for King County residents who are homeless, and the serious risks they face as they struggle to survive,” said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “It reflects the harshness of life on the streets and in shelters, inadequate access to health care, enormous human suffering and loss. Public Health has been and will continue to be proactive in taking steps to improve the health outcomes of homeless people.”
“The findings in our review are generally consistent with those of homeless mortality studies conducted in other cities,” said Janna Wilson, Program Manager for the Health Care for the Homeless Program based at Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Nationally, several studies have shown that homeless individuals suffer disproportionately from high rates of premature death.”
In addition to the homeless deaths, the study also collected data on a sample group of people who died while living in permanent housing programs known to target formerly homeless people. Forty-three decedents were identified. This group shared many of the characteristics of the homeless deaths, although the leading cause of death was cardiovascular disease. Like the homeless decedents, the formerly homeless sample had many serious health conditions.
Accompanying the study are recommendations from the Health Care for the Homeless Program’s advisory Planning Council, calling for strategic investments and system changes designed to help people end homelessness through successfully addressing their medical, mental health, and addiction problems.
As part of its commitment to addressing conditions for the homeless, including health-related issues and the lack of available and affordable housing, King County is taking a leadership role in the implementation of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, a comprehensive regional plan developed by the broad-based Committee to End Homelessness. Sims is a founding member of the Committee to End Homelessness.
The plan, to be released by year’s end, identifies the housing and supportive services necessary across the county to end homelessness by the year 2014 and brings together King County, the City of Seattle, United Way, suburban cities, faith communities, business and many others interested in finding long-term solutions to the problems of homelessness. Implementation of the action steps will be coordinated by King County beginning January 2005.
For more information on the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, visit www.cehkc.org. For more information on Health Care for the Homeless Network, visit www.metrokc.gov/health/hchn.
