Dignity in life and in death
Liv Carusi, Director
‘It is tragic enough that people experiencing homelessness are largely invisible to society. It is even more tragic when our fellow citizens continue to die from preventable causes – sadly, a point made by Alan Jordan 50 years ago.’
– Dr Andrew Hollows
The Guardian’s recent investigation on homelessness deaths shocked many with the disclosure that the average age of death for a person experiencing homelessness is 44 – more than 30 years younger than the median age of death for the general population.
Had my life circumstances been different, had I not had access to housing, education, employment, support, or the health services that I have required – all contributing factors of homelessness – my life would have ended 8 years ago.
So why then should circumstance afford some with dignity in life and death and not others?
Dignity in life and in death is a belief that many of us hold and share. This can be likened to the shared belief in a fair go for all.
But how do we ensure dignity and a fair go for all?
We start with a voice for the silent.
The South Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, alongside others, is strongly advocating for mandatory reporting of homelessness deaths to the Coroner in South Australia.
This critical reform will improve our understanding and knowledge of the individual stories and collective experiences of failed systems, which means that with the right prevention and timely intervention, we can ensure all individuals are cared for, irrespective of circumstances.
We ask that you to join us and add your voice to this much-needed reform and afford dignity to all, regardless of circumstances, in life and death.