SHOCKING new figures show that there has been a 71 per cent increase in the number of homeless people dying in the North-East in recent years.

Heroin laced with fentanyl, austerity measures and mental health issues have contributed to a stark rise in the deaths of those sleeping rough or living in temporary accommodation, according to charity bosses.

National figures from the Office of National Statistics show an increase of almost a quarter, with almost 600 people dying between 2013 and 2017 in England and Wales.

In the North-East, the figure rose from 18 to 32 people, representing the second highest increase in the country.

The team at Middlesbrough’s Bridge House, which provides supported housing for homeless people with complex needs, have seen the rise reflected in their own losses.

They recorded one death between 2010 and 2013 but have had seven of their clients die between January 2014 and now.

Chief executive Louise Lefevre said that a batch of heroin laced with fentanyl had contributed to four client deaths and 25 serious overdoses within three months in 2017.

She urged more understanding of the issues faced by the homeless and said significant funding cuts and austerity measures had had a huge impact locally, adding: “There’s less money in the pot to help people, while agencies and the NHS are overrun.

“A lot of people find themselves in a difficult place and find it very hard to get help.

“The introduction of the bedroom tax also had a huge impact - we have people coming to us who are on benefits but cannot afford to both pay their rent and be able to feed themselves.

“Chucking money at the issue isn’t always the answer, it’s about having services readily available, about understanding homelessness and about increasing the right kind of accommodation for people to live in.

“I dread to think how many more deaths there would have been if we were not there to help – the number of deaths is awful to think about but it is good to remember how many people we have managed to keep alive.”

Tracy Freeman from Darlington homeless charity Firststop, said: “The figures make for awful reading but homeless people have been dying quietly for a long time, they are always at massive risk of death.

“The numbers of homeless people have shot up recently so the numbers of deaths will rise, too.

“We need to look at how to change it – the Government’s promise of £11m for more hostels will not touch the sides.

“We need better, affordable housing and hostels are not the answer.

“Drugs and alcohol are a factor but they are often turned to as a result of mental health problems and it’s harder to access mental health services.”