More than 3000 face homelessness last
Christmas, 150 sleeping rough
Council’s Rough Sleeper Count
2016 [Largest report the charity has produced in 50 years, combining
government stats and freedom of information requests.] :
Dartford shows highest number relative
to population – 337 in temp accom, 10 sleeping rough
Medway has largest number of
homeless in total: 860 in temp accom and 14 rough sleepers campaign groups
put the figure at nearer 250
Maidstone has highest number
sleeping rough – 38
Nov 2015, Julian Boughton found
dead in tent near River Medway
Visited Maidtsone Day Centre,
found 22,100 people are homeless in the South East.
combination of government
statistics and freedom of information requests, the report is the largest the
charity has produced since its original Green Book publication 50 years ago
46, also known as Jules –
well known in town, regularly visted Day centre for 8 years.
Often seen each Tuesday
at market in barker Road with Staffordshire Bull terrier, Dexter.
Zofia Grzymala, manager at
Maidstone Day Centre: "Julian was an amazing guy and a long term client
here and was greatly loved by the whole homeless community."]
Vicky Pearlman, shelter rep - 01/12/16
Temp accomodation (by council or social services), 'hidden'
homeless (sofa surfing - unrecorded), brand new research shows homelessness
rising, housing shortage means million facing instability, increasing rent and
house price rises, welfare cuts
plans for affordable homes launched, lower income homes needed, wage to rent should be more appropriate)
plans for affordable homes launched, lower income homes needed, wage to rent should be more appropriate)
Shelter’s chief executive Campbell Robb said: “Shelter’s founding shone a light on hidden
homelessness in the sixties slums. But while those troubled
times have faded into memory, fifty years on a modern day housing
crisis is tightening its grip on our country.
“Tens of thousands of people in the South East will
face the trauma of waking up homeless this Christmas. Decades in the making,
this is the tragic result of a nation struggling under the weight of
sky-high rents, a lack of affordable homes, and cuts to welfare support.
“We all face the consequences when so many grow up
without a place to call home. It breaks up communities and wreaks havoc on
family life.
"For the sake of future generations we must
pull together to end this crisis, and refuse to rest until every child has a
place to call home.”
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