Over 3,000 children in temporary accommodation

There are more than three thousand children living in temporary accommodation across Kent this Christmas.

That's according to latest government figures which found 918 of the kids are living in Medway and 538 in Dartford.

Chris Thomas works for the homeless charity porchlight, and he said: "The number of families living in temporary accommodation across Kent is at breaking point.

"Councils are doing everything they can to provide place to go but they are under financial pressure themselves, it's really tough.

"Imagine being a family moved in this housing and all having to share one room. Add onto that it's miles and miles away from where you live, which is especially difficult if you are a kid trying to go to school, and making friends because you have no roots anywhere.

"The idea of this housing is for people to not be in for very long, that's why it's called temporary accommodation but you end up having people living there for a year, maybe more. The stress and strain that this creates can become incredible difficult to live with.

For children living in TA, the official figures for Kent were:

Dartford – 538

Gravesham – 325

Medway – 918

Sevenoaks – 82

Tonbridge and Malling – 177

Maidstone – 279

Swale – 399

Canterbury – 0

Ashford – 232

Dover – 337

Thanet – 0

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