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News Plans fail to cut homelessness


HOMELESSNESS is on the in- crease in Maidstone, despite the in- troduction of strategies to keep families off the streets. Maidstone Council’s homelessness review made several key findings – including a “significant” rise in the number of decisions about classify- ing homelessness since April 2011. Although levels of rough sleeping


have decreased in Maidstone, while other neighbouring authorities have reported an increase, landlord pos- session claims have steadily risen since 2006 and the number of cases accepted as homeless, eligible for as- sistance and in priority need has also gone up since 2010. Parents unwilling to provide a


home for their grown-up children is the main reason for people present- ing themselves to the council as


homeless, followed by the termina- tion of tenancies. Although house repossessions


have decreased since 2010, they are still at a higher level than before the financial downturn. The council has agreed that pre-


vention should play a key part in its homelessness strategy and intro- duced a cash incentive for private landlords to offer their property for rent to those on the housing register. Since 2008, the council has housed


3,054 households from the housing register and enabled the delivery of 1,155 affordable new homes within the borough. But in 2013/14, the council had to


investigate 395 cases of homeless- ness, compared with 71 in 2009/10. Those at highest risk are young people aged 16 to 44 (82% of appli-


Young cricketers make finals


PUPILS from Kings Hill Primary school are pictured cele- brating their success in the Tonbridge and Malling Kwik Cricket Festival. Around 250 young cricketers made up 23 teams from


19 primary schools across the borough in the annual tour- nament, hosted by Tonbridge School. Kings Hill fought through to the final but were beaten by Ightham. The semi-finalswere also hotly contested with Borough Green and More Park finishing in third and fourth place.


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Malling August 2014 19


cants since April 2011) while 47% of applicants in the same period were single mothers. However, the num- ber of single male households is also increasing.


Homelessness among young peo-


ple, particularly those aged 16-17, re- mains a concern for the council and it would like to see more mediation between young people and their families, while providing temporary respite accommodation, so they can consider their options. The council’s homeless strategy


points out: “(Homelessness) can have negative knock-on effects on a person’s health and wellbeing and their ability to access education and employment. It can affect social co- hesion within local neighbourhoods and economic prosperity.” Sofa surfing, sleeping rough and


living in unsuitable or temporary ac- commodation all contribute to the homeless “mix” and can bring sig- nificant costs to local housing au- thorities at a time of diminishing public resources. National policy changes, such as


welfare reform, are also likely to make it more challenging for the council to deal effectively with local homelessness, it concludes. The council hopes a revision to its allocation scheme will give priority to local residents and thosewhocon- tribute to the community – with paid or unpaid work or subscribing to further education or training. From November 2008 to Novem-


ber 2013, there was a 24-25% in- crease in the people claiming housing benefit in the borough.


Drink drive charge


ALARKFIELD woman who admit- ted drink driving following an inci- dent on the A228 at West Malling has been banned from driving. Barbara Hall (67), of Perch Close,


was stopped in a Land Rover Free- lander and a breath test showed 66mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 35mg. She was banned for 18 months and fined £200.


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