Four fold rise in emergency accomodation costs

I was shocked to see another indication of just how desperate the homelessness situation has become in Maidstone. A four fold increase in placing people in emergency accommodation is staggering.

Two months ago I spent a night on the street raising money for the winter shelter in Maidstone and I have worked a couple of night shifts at the shelter itself. This gave me a tiny insight into just how difficult it can be when work disappears, illness starts and support fails to materialise.

Local and national government are failing people who need it most. Maidstone is not providing enough affordable accommodation and the Coalition government is cutting support for people who need it most. There is a real conspiracy against people in need.

Costs revealed by FOI:

12/13     £440,447
11/12     £364,876
10/11     £172,701
09/10     £119,955
08/09     £111,894