Another homeless man sadly dies on streets of Milton Keynes - the third in just eight weeks

The man, who was in his early forties and called Igor, was found dead at the city centre, opposite the MK Central Station, on Wednesday (August 5).

He was curled up in his sleeping bag outside the entrance to the Old Bus Station, which was until recently used as emergency overnight acccoommodation for the homeless but now offers food and help during daytimes only

The sleeping facilities there have been closed by the council as part of its plan to turn the building into a huge new £76 million events venue to 'transform the entertainment scene' in Milton Keynes.

Sadly, Igor is the third homeless person to die on city streets since the beginning of June.

The news has rocked the homeless community and also the small army of helpers and volunteers who try to improve their lives. They are now demanding more help from the authorities before more lives are lost.

The city’s MK Homeless & Community Support CIC Group posted on its Facebook page yesterday photos of other homeless people in tears as they heard the news. They wrote: “Today, another homeless person sadly lost their life. This is the third homeless person to die this year. No matter someone's circumstances, every life matters, and every life deserves dignity.”

They added: “We share moments like this because too many people never see the reality of what's happening on our streets. These aren't just statistics, they're human beings, and to many others in the homeless community, they're family.”

The support group was set up at the beginning of the year by Fitzy, a local man determined to help homeless people. Its volunteers take food, blankets and clothes to rough sleepers and try to help with their problems.

"We are devastated to hear about Igor,” Fitzy told the Citizen. “He had been feeling ill the night before, complaining of pain, and the other homeless people did their best to help him the best they could. But the next day he was found dead, right outside the entrance to the Old Bus Station.

"That was a place where the homeless community gathered because they could get help there. They liked to sleep near to it but the council kept moving them and their possessions on… It is an awful situation and this latest death highlights how bad it is.”

The tragic spate of deaths started with Shiva, a well-known member of the homeless community in Milton Keynes, who was found in similar circumstances in early June. He was just 25 years old. Community members and supporters held a vigil and gathered to lay flowers in his memory.

Just weeks later, Joe, a homeless man in his early thirties, was also found dead. All three men had gathered and slept around the Old Bus Station, which opens in the morning to offer food and help for the homeless.

And last year the entire city was rocked by the death of John Hickmott, a 63-year-old man who had lived in a Milton Keynes bus stop for nearly 20 years. He was killed after being hit by a car while crossing the V11 Tongwell Street after dark.

A later coroner's report revealed that the street light directly above the collision site was broken, leading Milton Keynes City Council to implement a remote street-lighting monitoring system to prevent future incidents.

Milton Keynes City Council provides emergency assistance, prevention advice, and outreach support for anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Council officials insist the majority of homeless people in the city have been offered accommodation and those who are still sleeping on the streets have “declined to engage” with services offered to them. This can be because of issues with drugs and/or alcohol, they say.

The council says there are “only a handful” of people sleeping rough in the city. But Fitzy insists his group has more than 60 homeless people on its books, desperate for accommodation.

Meanwhile, the homeless community is now planning to pay tribute to Igor whose death will be subject to a formal inquest.

“As we did for Shiva, let's come together once again and take a moment to remember another life lost far too soon.” said Fitzy.

He added: "People deserve to know what’s happening on our streets… How many more lives before something changes?

A spokesperson for MK City Council told the Citizen: “We are very sorry to hear about this death, and our condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. This gentleman has previously been housed through our services. We are assisting the police with their investigation into the cause of death.”