A half-a-million pound project is being launched to tackle homelessness in north-west Kent.

The Lottery-funded initiative will roll out over the next five years through a partnership of charities led by Citizens’ Advice.

The money will help the area’s rough sleepers, and the many more who are facing eviction.

It follows a doubling of rough sleepers in England since 2010 – and an even sharper rise in Kent.

Porchlight’s rough sleeper team found 398 people on the county’s streets in 2015-16. That is up from 148 in 2012-13.

The project – called Path (Preventing Actual and Threatened Homelessness) – will be delivered by eight charities: Citizens Advice Dartford, Porchlight, West Kent Mind, West Kent Mediation, West Kent Debt Advice, Choices (formerly known as North Kent Women’s Aid) and the Samaritans.

Each charity will bring its expertise to the project to tackle the multiple root causes of homelessness.

It will include mediation for those threatened with eviction, mental and emotional health services, debt advice and expert housing advice.

Homeless people may be assessed for housing legal aid and signposted to a publicly funded solicitor if appropriate.

Eventually, peer champions will be identified from among those who have benefited from the project. They will be trained and supported to become a voice for the homeless.

Harry Jerman, of Citizens’ Advice North West Kent, said: “This funding ensures that local people who are facing homelessness have the help they need to overcome their crises. Additional support will enable individuals to campaign on the issues that matter to them and to become champions for change.”