Homelessness in our boroughs is at an all-time high but services are struggling to cope due to funding cuts, according to charity Porchlight.

In Gravesham, the number of people sleeping rough leapt an astonishing 124% last year, from 41 to 92.

It meant the area overtook Dartford, which has historically been badly affected by the problem, and last year saw a 37% increase from 43 to 59.

That change was more in line with the rest of the county, with saw a 39% rise from 462 to 633.

While the government’s far lower figures — which stated there were just nine rough sleepers in Dartford in the same period — are taken from a single night, Porchlight’s include those sleeping on the streets between April and December.

In November, charity Shelter combined government and temporary housing figures to show the number of homeless people in the country had increased by 13,000 in a year.
However, it warned the true number was likely to be far higher.

The Messenger has previously reported how both Sanctuary, which is Gravesend’s winter shelter, and the Dartford churches shelter — which benefited from a £10,000 grant from Dartford council — have been fully booked so far this winter.

According to Porchlight chief executive Mike Barrett, the demand is only set to rise.
While praising Dartford’s efforts he said: “Some councils are being forced into making some impossible decisions on how to spend their diminishing social care budgets and this is decimating the help that’s there for people in need.

“This includes our street teams and our hostels.

“Quite frankly, the future for people on the streets or those at risk of homelessness has never looked so bleak.”

Mr Barrett said while the government had announced measures, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act which places a duty on councils to help prevent homelessness, Porchlight was not confident it would be effective.

He added: “The act comes into force in April and it puts extensive new duties on local authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness.

“It should be a positive step but our concern is that they will not be able to meet the costs of these new duties because of the extreme financial pressures they are already facing.

“Instead of simply placing the responsibility onto local authorities, the government needs to make proper investment in homelessness support and provide more affordable housing.

“Until it does, nothing will change and homelessness will continue into the next generation."