Kent charity calls for support as county sees 17% rise in rough sleepers
New government funding aims to halve rough sleeping by 2030
New figures reveal rough sleeping in England has reached an all-time high, with the South East, including Kent, accounting for 17% of the national total, second only to London.
New government figures show that 174 people were sleeping rough in Kent and Medway on a single night last autumn - a 17% rise on the previous year.
Sarah Mills from the charity Porchlight underscores the complex reasons behind homelessness and emphasizes the significance of each individual represented in these statistics.
The government has committed £50 million over the next three years to councils and homelessness services to tackle long-term rough sleeping.
Sarah Mills, director of services at Porchlight, pointed out that homelessness is a multi-layered issue often caused by breakdowns in family relationships or individuals struggling to keep up with rent or mortgage payments.
"We need to remember that behind every number there is a person surviving something dangerous and dehumanising," Sarah Mills said.
"22% told us family breakdown was the tipping point. 21% had fallen behind on rent or mortgage payments. Others faced job loss, mental health challenges, leaving prison with nowhere to go, fleeing violence, or being discharged from hospital without housing", according to research by Porchlight.
About 6% of homeless individuals recently released from prison find themselves with nowhere to live, adds Sarah Mills.
To address these concerns responsibly, Sarah Mills encourages reporting those sleeping rough via the Homeless Link website, allowing charities and local authorities to reach out and offer support.
Porchlight is also running a campaign to raise £60,000 for their client support fund, which provides essentials such as food, clothing, and phones to help individuals rebuild confidence and independence.
The government is investing £3.6billion into its National Plan to End Homelessness.
The investment is divided across two main funds, with £37 million allocated to voluntary and community groups, and £15 million targeting regions with the greatest long-term pressures, such as London.
Strategies include smarter, joined-up approaches, complex case coordination, peer mentoring, and stronger links between services to help people get off the streets permanently.
This is all part of an effort to halve long-term rough sleeping by 2030.