Nearly 60 families in Swale are facing Christmas in temporary accommodation.

Research by the News Extra revealed 72 households, 57 of which include children, have been forced to take short term living arrangements via the council after declaring themselves homeless.

Of that total figure 18 are in currently staying in B&Bs.

Out of Kent’s 13 authorities, the borough has the third highest number of people without a permanent roof over their heads.

Medway is at the top with 104 families, while Tonbridge and Malling is at the bottom with nine.

The figures came to light after a report by homeless charity Shelter said that 6,217 children in the south east would be without a permanent home over the festive period.

Cllr John Wright (Con), Swale council’s cabinet portfolio holder for housing, isn’t surprised by the borough’s total.

He said: “We always have a spike at this time of year due to finances and families breaking up.

“I think people who are well off think it’s a case of someone has lost their job or they’ve been kicked out for non-payment of rent and yes that does happen, but a lot of it is due to children being kicked out by their parents when they reach 16/17 years of age.

“We do have an officer who acts as a mediator to try and bring families back together.

“We put more effort into preventing homelessness so people don’t find themselves in an unfriendly room without their support network.”

People seeking housing are assessed during a 30-day period during which officers try to help on a short-term basis, whether it is with rent arrears or placing people in temporary accommodation.

Council rents are priced below market rent, which is an average of the private rents charged by estate agents and private landlords in the borough.

Wright added: “If they are truly homeless then we have a responsibility try and find temporary accommodation for them.”

To qualify for a council property in Swale, you have to have lived and worked in the borough for between four and five years.

Mr Wright said: “It is a policy that is supported by local people because they felt those coming from outside the area were being given preferential treatment.”

We reported last week Swale council had bought a Sittingbourne house at a cost of £160,000 which will turned into a B&B for those in need across Swale.