France saw a record surge in homeless deaths in 2024, with 912 people dying while living without stable housing, according to figures released Thursday by the collective Les Morts de la Rue.
The organisation described the toll as “an appalling new record” and called for urgent government action to address poverty and homelessness.
The figure represents a sharp rise from the 735 deaths recorded in 2023. Tracking homeless fatalities since 2012, Les Morts de la Rue reported that the vast majority of those who died were men (82 percent), but the proportion of women (13 percent) is increasing, signaling a “feminisation of homelessness.”
The collection also said children accounted for four percent of deaths, including 19 under the age of four – double the rate seen over the 2012–2023 period.
Those who died were on average just 47.7 years old, highlighting a life expectancy gap of 32 years compared with the general population. The collective also warned that official records capture only about one in five homeless deaths, suggesting the real toll is likely much higher.
“Faced with this tragedy, the urgency is twofold: to protect the most vulnerable and to reform public policy so that the right to decent housing finally becomes a reality,” the group said in a statement.
Of the 912 deaths, 304 occurred on the streets, 243 in temporary accommodations, while the living situation of 365 individuals could not be determined. In many cases, the cause of death remains unknown (40 percent), with 17 percent classified as violent deaths, including drownings, assaults, and suicides.
Credit: rfi
