Report Investigates Deaths of Central Texas Homeless

Seventy-seven “transient,” citizens of Travis County died in the years 2013 and 2014.

In a special report published Sunday, The Austin American-Statesman and Noticias Univision 62 teamed up to review all 77 death reports filed by the Travis County medical examiner.

What they found: The homeless of Central Texas are much more likely to die of homicide, suicide or during an accident, and that drugs and alcohol play a role in a large number of the deaths.

The report found a striking contrast between the percentage of natural deaths in average Travis County residents and homeless residents of the county. Eighty-six percent of Travis County residents die of natural causes, of the 77 transient deaths in 2013 and 2014, only 29 percent were caused by natural causes. The report found that of the 77 deaths, 52 percent were accidental, 10 percent were suicides and 5 percent were homicides. These percentages are nearly five times greater than for Travis County residents.

The report also focused on the high number of alcohol- and drug-related deaths in the homeless community. Of the 77 deaths, alcohol played a role in 49 percent and drugs in 36 percent, reported the Statesman. Other than overdoses, substance abuse accounted for an increased risk of accidental death and played a role in violent deaths.

Of the 77 deaths included in the study, 67 were men and 10 were women. In each case, the person had no registered address. The number is likely less than the actual number of deaths in the county since many homeless people often live with family, friends or at shelters.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler told the Statesman that the report could help drive policy by advocating for holistic approaches to solving the problem of homelessness. During his tenure as mayor, Adler has made it a policy priority to house Austin’s homeless veterans.

“There’s a lot of organizations and a lot of support, but obviously there’s always a need for more,” Adler told the Statesman. “The question is how do you make the resources available in a way that provides the greatest assistance?”

File photo via flickr