Private rental plan to help homeless
MAIDSTONE’S homeless are to be offered private rented hous- ing in a bid to cut down on the use of B&B accommodation. All new applicants since No- vember who are still homeless will be given the option of a 12- month tenancy in the private sector, should something suit- able be available. Historically, the homeless have
been found bed and breakfast ac- commodation until social hous- ing becomes available. However, this is expensive for the council, and unsettling for the tenants, according to Cllr John Wilson, cabinet member for community and leisure services. The Localism Act of 2011
gave housing authorities the op- tion of offering homeless people private rented accommodation for the first time. Cllr Wilson said: “The coun-
cil is committed to improving the housing options for home- less households, especially where emergency temporary ac- commodation is necessary.”
The council has entered into
an agreement with a number of private landlords who are pre- pared to offer housing to the homeless. The council will aim to offer property within the borough, but there may be occasions when housing outside the bor- ough is offered. “Each case will be considered separately. An important part of this assessment will include whether an offer of accommoda- tion in the private sector is the best way to achieve a successful outcome,” said CllrWilson. If an offer is refused, the council will no longer have a statutory duty to provide social or private sector housing. All applicants to the housing register are being encouraged to enter into the “Community Con- tribution” band as the quickest way of obtaining subsidised housing. This means priority will be given to those who do voluntary work or help their community in a positive way.
Crocuses boost polio campaign
lioPlus campaign in 1985 to raise money and organise mass vaccina- tions. At that time there were about 350,000 cases of polio per year–last year therewere fewer than300cases and only three countries where the disease is still endemic. Purple is thecolourassociatedwith
polio eradication because, on immu- nisation days, volunteers keep track of children who have received the vaccine by painting a finger purple. Mary Lynn, chairman of the Inter- national and Foundation committee of MaidstoneRiversideRotary Club said “Polio is only anairline flight away, even from theUK. Until it is elim- inated everywhere,no child is safe.We raisedalmost£10,whichwill buy 250 doses of vaccine.”
Collector SoniaWright
MP opens charity conference HELEN Grant,MPfor Maidstone and TheWeald, opened Maidstone’s fourth annual Voluntary and Community Sector Conference. The conference focused on how social enterprise is transforming
the voluntary, charity and business sectors, with delegates hearing from inspirational people who have set up their own initiatives. Mrs Grant said: “This was a wonderful opportunity to speak to people who want to start up small enterprises with a social aspect. It is groups like these who play an invaluable role in driving for- ward community and voluntary activity in the borough.” Charlotte Osborn-Forde, chief executive of Voluntary Action Maidstone, said: “We have already had some excellent feedback from people that it will make a real difference to their plans.”
Snow brings food gift for homeless THE snow brought some seasonal cheer for the homeless on Maidstone’s streets. When the Lord Lieutenant’s annual civic service in All Saints’ Church was cancelled due to snow, 750 lunches prepared byMor- risons in ParkWood could have gone to waste. However, KCC secretary Lizzy Adam remembered a recent
Food for Thought event at Maidstone Day Centre, and within minutes of the cancellation, the meals were on their way to the Community Food Share Project for the town’s homeless people.
info@redlet.co.uk
www.redlet.co.uk Link House, Knightrider Court, Maidstone, ME15 6LU
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info@downsmail.co.uk East 19
SHOPPERSat TheMall, Maidstone, helpedmembersofMaidstone River- side Rotary Club celebrate the organisation’s 108th anniversary by buy- ingpurplecrocuses to supportRotary’scontinuing campaigntoeliminate polio from theworld. Rotary International started its Po-
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