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Community come together to keep homeless warm
This weekend Folkestone's community came together to launch a short-term plan to help homeless people living on the streets during the cold spell.
Started by Sharon SIlvey in Munich, she quickly created a team, involving her son Billie, to collect donations and temporarily house people in Folkestone that are homeless, into a hotel.
Listen to our full report below.
Billie who has helped launch homeless help
Shepway District Council gave us this full statement:
Cllr Alan Ewart-James, Shepway Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Health, said: “The council works closely with the Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter at the Rainbow Centre. Homeless people are able to present themselves at the centre between 10am and 1pm to stay there for that night and is open until 22 February. It is located at 69 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 2AF. The centre has space for 13 people.
“The council is also able to offer advice and assistance as well as direct people who are homeless, or about to become homeless, to a range of services. They can phone 01303 853300, emailhousing@shepway.gov.uk or visit the council offices. Out of hours, people can call 01303 221888.
“Emergency accommodation is available subject to eligibility criteria but in any case, when the temperature drops below minus three degrees, we place single homeless people into bed and breakfast accommodation for the duration of that severe weather.
The council works with a number of organisations including the Folkestone Rainbow Centre, Porchlight and the Kent Advice Service for Single Homeless (KASSH). Folkestone’s winter shelter was first set up six years ago and has become an example of good practice followed by other local authorities in Kent since then.
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