The average age of death among rough sleepers coming to the attention of Dublin Simon Community over the past two years was 38, a memorial service was told today.
The service, at the Unitarian Church in Dublin, was held to remember the 64 people in the Community who had died since 2007.
Of these, the service heard, 62 had been in services, one was a member of staff and one was a full-time volunteer.
The average age of the 14 women and the 48 men who were service users was 40 years of age.
Almost 60 per cent of those who had died in the last two years had been contacts of the rough sleeper outreach team, said Chief Executive of the Dublin Simon, Sam McGuinness.
"This means they are either living on the street or in crisis emergency accommodation. For this group of people, the average age of death was 38. It's frightening when one considers life expectancy in a developed country like Ireland is 77 years of age".
The memorial was attended by about 100 service users, staff and some family and friends of people who had died.
Offertory gifts brought to the altar included pictures, a plant, cardboard representing the ground-sheet used by most rough-sleepers and a set of 'house' keys. There were a number of readings.
The names of the 64 deceased were then read by staff, volunteers and service users. A candle was lit for each in their memory and the service lasted just under an hour.
The short life expectancy and the complex health needs of people who experience homelessness were recently highlighted in a health audit by Dublin Simon Community.
"The early results display high levels of both the physical and mental health needs of people experiencing homelessness. Nearly 60 per cent of those using Dublin Simon services have a serious diagnosed physical condition while over 20 per cent have a diagnosed mental health condition," said Mr McGuinness.
"There are also a large number of people living with liver conditions and Hepatitis B and or C. Both conditions are again a sign of the desperation of turning to drugs or alcohol when someone is experiencing vulnerability and desolation."
Depression was the most diagnosed mental health condition among service users.
The service was conducted by Pastor Bridget Spain and the Reverend Darren McCallig, and the Trinity College Chapel Choir sang.
