BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay brought the programme to an abrupt halt on Wednesday as he delivered what he described as 'shocking' news about homelessness deaths in the UK.
During the broadcast, Kay and co-host Sarah Campbell revealed that deaths among homeless people rose by almost nine per cent last year, according to the Museum of Homelessness. The organisation reported that at least 1,600 people died in 2024, up from around 1,400 in 2023.
Kay disclosed that of those deaths, 11 were children, including four babies under the age of one. Campbell noted that despite the overall rise across the UK, the numbers of homeless people dying in Scotland and Wales actually fell in 2024.
The presenters were joined by Matt Turtle, co-founder of the Museum of Homelessness, who said he was 'not shocked' by the figures. 'We have been carrying out these investigations for several years now and every year we are reporting rises,' he said. 'The thing that really does shock me is when we are going through some of the human stories and seeing what people are experiencing in towns and cities around the UK, that's what really breaks my heart.'
Turtle confirmed that the actual death toll is likely higher, as not all councils provide information. 'We know they are higher because not all councils give us information. So much information we get is anonymised,' he added.
