The county is in crisis, with 2,222 children living in temporary accommodation, according to a report by national charity Shelter.
The worst area in Kent is the Medway Towns, with one in 99 children without a proper home. The report says that almost 700 young people in the area are living in temporary accommodation – such as B&Bs and hostels.
Source: Shelter
According to the charity, these children and their families are “squashed into one room with little space to cook, play or eat their meals, forced to share bathrooms with strangers, and their accommodation located miles away from schools, jobs, and loved ones”.
The ‘Generation Homeless’ report estimates that at least 440 more children in the region will be homeless by Christmas. It warns that welfare cuts, alongside a lack of social housing and expensive rents, could be driving the increase in homelessness.
The Medway Towns has a significantly higher number of homeless children than other constituencies in the county. It is followed by Swale (248) and Dartford (246).
“Squashed into one room with little space to cook, play or eat their meals.”
Shelter
With the General Election next week (December 12th), Shelter are asking that every political party puts housing at the top of the domestic agenda. They also put out an urgent appeal for donations to the charity.
Polly Neate, the chief executive of Shelter, said: “Every child has the right to a safe home and if we act now, our frontline advisers can support more homeless families in the South East to get to a better place.”
To donate to Shelter visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3.
Shelter receives 100% of donations and the money will go towards helping those without a home, especially over Christmas.
