ACT Shelter is calling on the local government to amend the Coroners Act 1997 so that the death of a person experiencing homelessness becomes a reportable death.

Currently the ACT has no system to identify how many people experiencing homelessness die each year, what caused their deaths, or whether those deaths could have been prevented.

ACT Shelter CEO Corinne Dobson says while national research has shown many homelessness deaths are preventable, there isn’t any local stats.

“We know people experiencing homelessness are far more likely to die from causes that are preventable or treatable. But in the ACT, we do not know how many people are dying, why they are dying, or whether our systems could have done more to prevent those deaths.

“We investigate road deaths, workplace deaths and deaths in custody because understanding why people die helps prevent future deaths. People experiencing homelessness deserve that same commitment.

“This would not solve homelessness on its own, but it would help make the hidden visible, strengthen accountability, and build the evidence we need to save lives.”