New ADR NI research reveals mortality inequalities among people who have experienced homelessness
26 August 2026
New ADR Northern Ireland research has examined the relationship between homelessness and mortality using linked population-wide administrative data from Northern Ireland. The study found that people who were named on homelessness applications were more likely to die younger and disproportionately more from deaths of despair – deaths related to suicide, alcohol or substances – than those who had never presented as homeless.
Using anonymised linked data from the National Health Application and Infrastructure Services (NHAIS), the General Register Office (GRO) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Housing Management System, researchers tracked mortality outcomes among individuals aged 16 years and over between 2011 and 2023.
Homelessness is widely recognised as being associated with poorer health outcomes, but until now there has been limited evidence on mortality patterns among people applying for statutory homelessness assistance in Northern Ireland. This study provides new insights into the mortality inequalities faced by this population and identifies groups at particularly elevated risk.
The following are some key findings from the research:
- 1 in 6 deaths among people who had been named on homeless applications were classified as "deaths of despair" (deaths related to suicide, alcohol or substances), compared with approximately 1 in 36 deaths among people who had never presented as homeless.
- Among homeless presenters aged under 35 years, deaths of despair accounted for around 64.1%, or two-thirds of all deaths.
- Young adult males who had experienced homelessness were particularly affected, with deaths of despair accounting for 68.4% of all deaths in this group.
- Deaths of despair were consistently more common among homeless presenters across all age and sex groups compared with people who had never presented as homeless.
- Sole applicants experienced a greater burden of deaths of despair than people named on homelessness applications alongside other household members.
Why it matters
This research highlights substantial mortality inequalities among people who have been named on an application for statutory homelessness assistance in Northern Ireland and demonstrates how linked administrative data can help uncover patterns that would otherwise remain hidden.
The findings show that homelessness is associated with challenges that extend beyond housing insecurity alone. The high proportion of deaths related to suicide, alcohol and substances suggests a need for integrated approaches that address housing, mental health and substance use disorder together. Understanding the factors associated with mortality among people experiencing homelessness is critical to informing future policy and prevention strategies in Northern Ireland.
