Homeless people in Czechia die 16 years earlier on average, study finds

People who have experienced homelessness die on average 16 years earlier than the rest of the Czech population, according to an analysis by the Platform for Social Housing.

The study also found that the lives of one in seven people who have experienced homelessness end directly on the street.

Representatives of the Salvation Army and Caritas Czech Republic say the solution lies in a functioning benefits system, social services and the availability of affordable housing. A new Housing Support Act, aimed at people in housing distress, should help address the issue.

The analysis is based on data from 2010 to 2022 provided by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS).