Halton Council has pledged support for the homeless.

The health and wellbeing board has signed up to St Mungo’s Broadway’s homeless health charter to measure and understand the health needs of homeless people in Halton.

This homelessness charity is asking all 152 health and wellbeing boards in England to take urgent action to tackle the ill health of homeless people in their area as part of its homeless health matters campaign.

Cllr Rob Polhill, chairman of Halton health and wellbeing board, said: “Halton Council is committed to helping homeless people in our area.

“Only this month a partnership between ourselves, Halton Housing Trust and The Salvation Army, saw Brennan Lodge, on Albert Road in Widnes open, offering temporary accommodation for 39 residents.”

The service, part funded by a £877,500 homelessness change programme grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, works with individuals to help them achieve their goals and move forward with their lives by creating personalised support packages.

Cllr Polhill added: “People without adequate housing will inevitably suffer more health issues as a result so we support this national campaign by St Mungo’s to improve the situation.”

In a recent report the charity revealed that 73 per cent of homeless people have a physical health problem and 65% have a mental health problem.

The average age of men who die while homeless is 47, for women it is 43.

Some 53% of homeless women and 34% of homeless men have attempted suicide at least one.

The annual cost of hospital treatment for homeless people is at least £85 million a year.

 Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo’s Broadway, said: “Homelessness hurts. Homeless people have some of the highest levels of poor health within our society.

 “We have launched this campaign to improve the health of some of the most vulnerable.”

“We thank Halton for signing our charter and committing to include homeless people in their health plans.

“This means we can really start tackling inequalities and improving people’s health.”

The charity is asking people to take action and sign a petition to the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt at mungosbroadway.org.uk/homelesshealth