SARASOTA – A recent national study found that individuals experiencing homelessness are three to four times more likely to die prematurely.
And for those living on the streets here on the Suncoast – the average life expectancy is reduced by 29 years.
After the body of a homeless woman, Tiffany Williams, was found by joggers Wednesday morning on Holmes Beach. Many within the homeless community stop to wonder if one of their own will be identified as the victim.
According to data from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council – for every age group, a person experiencing homelessness is three times more likely to die than the general population.
And all too often, those who die on the streets are not connected to family or support systems who can hold a funeral or properly honor them.
“They’re not just faces, they’re not just stats,” said Laura Licoski. “These are people and they’re our friends.”
Licoski, a community activist with Facing Homelessness – Bradenton, knows all too well the challenges that comes with losing a friend to homelessness.
Licoski says at any given time it’s difficult to keep an accurate count of the homeless population on the Suncoast. As many transit from place to place keeping a record of those who’ve passed has always been a rough estimate.
