The Winter Shelter in Maidstone is making a big difference to the lives of people in circumstances beyond their control and who find themselves homeless.
It is achieving great outcomes for guests, 80% of whom are successful in moving on to accommodation, work or training. Using church buildings staffed by project workers and volunteer teams, the Shelter hopes to take the uncertainty and stress out of trying to find overnight accommodation during the coldest nights of the winter.
Using church buildings and the Maidstone Day Centre staffed by project workers and volunteer teams, the Shelter hopes to take the uncertainty and stress out of trying to find overnight accommodation during the coldest nights of the winter. Fifteen people each evening at venues in central Maidstone can be accommodated and are assessed for priority each Monday to Friday afternoon.
The needs of the homeless are clear, both nationally and locally. In Kent in 2013 a rise of 50% in the numbers of rough sleepers brought together community leaders, Maidstone Borough Council, Porchlight, Maidstone Day Centre and others to bring about a pilot project of a Winter Shelter for the homeless in 2013-14 for a period of 8 weeks.
It was extremely successful and the original governing group became Trustees in July 2014 to take forward the planning to open again in 2014-15. A Charity was formed, funding was applied for, a Project Manager and Resources Manager were employed in October 2014 and the Shelter opened again in 2014, this time for 12 weeks, starting at the beginning of December and running until end Feb 2015. The success of the Shelter continues and will be opening again in December 2015 for 12 weeks providing 12 beds.
