A Kent council has struck a deal with Travelodge to provide up to 57 rooms for homeless people and rough sleepers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The move - which will cost Canterbury City Council £163,000 - will see those on the streets given a "safe space" in one of the budget chain's hotels.

Canterbury homelessness charity Catching Lives will also provide three meals a day to those self-isolating, who will be contacted daily.

The measures come after the government reportedly ordered all local authorities to find homes for rough sleepers before the weekend.

Cllr Neil Baker - the chair of the city council's community committee - said: "We're very pleased to have reached this deal with Travelodge to accommodate the most vulnerable people in our community at this most difficult of times.

"There is no protection from coronavirus for people living on the streets, so by providing these safe spaces we are giving rough sleepers the very best chance of surviving this pandemic, while also carrying on working with them to resolve their homelessness once and for all."

In addition to the Travelodge rooms, rough sleeper services in Canterbury district are continuing to operate wherever possible.

Catching Lives, although now unable to run its normal day centre, is operating a food service from a hatch at the front of its building next to Canterbury East railway station, serving breakfast between 9.30am and 10.30am and lunch from midday to 1pm.

It is also offering a limited service for those who need to access their showers and laundry facilities.

Porchlight continues to run its local supported accommodation, which includes a number of emergency beds used by the council's rough sleeper initiative team.

The council says all agencies are ensuring they are in regular contact with homeless people on the phone and providing assistance where needed. Phones and power banks are available from Catching Lives.

Donations of food, drink and other essentials are also coming in from local residents and businesses, including Waitrose.

Cllr Baker added: "This is our district in a nutshell - the community coming together to support people who really need our help. It's fantastic to see and we send our grateful thanks to everybody who is playing their part during this crisis."

Some of the Travelodge rooms have also been offered to Dover District Council to help them find a safe space for rough sleepers to self-isolate.

The hotel chain clashed with the government earlier this week after it shut about 360 of its hotels following the announcement of tougher lockdown rules on Monday night.

It meant many key workers and homeless people were turfed out of their rooms, despite hotels hosting such groups being exempt from the social distancing measures.

A spokesman told KentOnline today: “Travelodge has been obliged to commence the temporary closure of its hotels in line with the instructions from the government on March 24, 2020.

"We do expect to remain open in selected critical locations across the country to support accommodation for emergency workers and other groups.

"We are reviewing daily which hotels are best positioned to support the needs that arise with the government while ensuring we comply with the new restrictions in place to protect the public.”

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