A multi-million pound government pledge will see parts of Kent receive a share of more than 530 new long-term homes for rough sleepers.

The plans will make long term accommodation available for homeless people across the south east with Maidstone set to be the "cornerstone" of efforts to tackle the issue.

It is backed by a nationwide investment of more than £150 million to help rough sleepers, or those at risk of homelessness, to be rehoused in safe homes where they can rebuild their lives.

They will be made available by the end of March next year and form part of the government's £433 million pledge to deliver 6,000 new homes for rough sleepers by the end of this Parliament.

At the onset of the pandemic in March the government launched its "Everyone in" campaign to get all rough sleepers off the streets.

More than 90% of rough sleepers known to councils at the beginning of the pandemic were offered accommodation to help protect them, it said.

In April Canterbury City Council made a deal with Travelodge to provide 57 rooms for homeless people and rough sleepers during Covid-19, costing the council £163,000 – which was later extended .

But Porchlight, the charity behind the project warned that rough sleepers would end up back on the streets after lockdown without the full support of central government.

By September the government said more than 29,000 vulnerable people had been supported, with more than 10,000 in emergency accommodation and nearly 19,000 provided with settled accommodation or move on support.

Maidstone was among those areas to receive an allocation of 530 new homes for rough sleepers across the South East, as announced by Minister for Rough Sleeping Kelly Tolhurst today.

The Rochester and Strood MP said: “The efforts to protect rough sleepers throughout the pandemic have been truly outstanding, and I want to wholeheartedly thank all the charities, councils, housing providers and support groups who have made this possible.

“We want to ensure the progress continues for years to come and the new, safe and supported homes in the region, including in Reading, Maidstone and Brighton, are the cornerstone of our work to tackle rough sleeping and provide a solid foundation for those affected to rebuild their lives.”

"In what has been an extraordinarily challenging year for all of us, it has been doubly challenging for the most vulnerable in our society.

She added: "Those sleeping rough on the streets of our towns and cities not only faced the dangers posed by the spread of the virus, but also not having a roof over their heads.

"Which is why, from the outbreak of the pandemic, we knew we had a duty to act and protect them.

"We took decisive action, helping to protect thousands of lives by taking the most vulnerable off the streets and into safe accommodation.

"Tackling rough sleeping is a generational challenge that we need to embrace head-on with safe, long-term solutions.

"As Minister for Rough Sleeping, I am doing everything I can to ensure we give more people the support they need to turn around their lives for a brighter future."

Once they have the keys to their new home, the scheme says rough sleepers will be supported by specialist staff to access whatever help they need.

"Tackling rough sleeping is a generational challenge that we need to embrace head-on with safe, long-term solutions."

This includes support for mental health or substance misuse needed to help people rebuild their lives and access training and work.

In total, 276 schemes have been approved across England, including 38 in London alone, which will provide 904 new homes for rough sleepers.

Outside of London, 238 councils have received approval to move to the next phase of development, encompassing 2,430 new homes.

This funding is provided on top of the £91.5 million allocated to 274 councils in September to fund their individual local plans for rough sleepers over the coming months, and to help provide short-term and interim accommodation for vulnerable people.

In addition, a further £10 million is to be given to councils for cold weather payments to help to keep rough sleepers safe this winter.

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