News
downsmail.co.uk Action to help rough sleepers BETWEEN 60 and 70 people are said to be sleeping rough on the streets of Maidstone.
The statistic was revealed to Maidstone’s night economy forum by officers from Maidstone Council who have been trying to get street sleepers and vagrants to “re-en- gage” with society. The council’s Sam Scales told the meeting: “There are a lot more peo- ple out there than we at first thought.”
She said the council’s community safety team now had a long list of people who were begging and sleeping rough. Although some of these might have housing, most were homeless and were involved in drinking, drugs or begging. The figure varied from week to
week, she said, with some move- ment in and out of the borough, but the figure of 60-70 men and women remained roughly constant. Ms Scales added: “Some of these people have mental health issues; they may indulge in substance abuse. The difficulty is getting them to visit a GP or re-engage with life. If they miss an appointment, we need to have a means of reining them in.”
After months of complaints about the escalating incidents of street begging, the council is now bidding
for funds to provide basic tempo- rary accommodation for the street sleepers, although Ms Scales stressed it would not be a “wet house” – a place where homeless alcoholics are left to eat, sleep and drink as much as they wish. In some parts of America, wet
houses are seen as a preferable eco- nomic alternative to leaving va- grants on the streets where they can be a burden on social, legal and medical services.
Ms Scales said the council was
very pleased with the success of its outreach project but the next step
was to find ways of resolving the problem. She said: “The next step is to look at accommodation, enforce- ment and injunctions.”
The council has now issued a plea for “basic premises” that can easily be washed down and cleaned to act as a halfway house.
More homeless, despite council action
THE increase in homelessness is despite the introduction of strate- gies to keep families off the streets. Maidstone Council’s homeless- ness review made several key find- ings – including a “significant” rise in the number of decisions about classifying homelessness since April 2011. Landlord possession claims have steadily risen since 2006 and the number of cases ac- cepted 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 pre- senting themselves to the council as homeless, followed by the ter- mination of tenancies.
Although house repossessions
have decreased since 2010, they are still at a higher level than before the financial downturn.
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- cants since April 2011) while 47% of applicants in the same period were single mothers. However, the number of single male households is also increasing.
Homelessness among young people, particularly those aged 16- 17, remains a concern for the coun-
Hospice volunteers rewarded for service
STAFF and volunteers from The Heart of Kent Hospice were recog- nised for their service and commit- ment at an awards ceremony at Oakwood House, Maidstone. The Lady Monckton awards cere-
mony is held every year during Na- tional Volunteer’s Week to celebrate the contribution staff and volunteers make at the hospice. The awards were presented by the hospice’s patron, Marianna, Vis- countess Monckton of Brenchley. Jo Graham, a volunteer at the hos- pice shop in Starnes Court, Maid-
Volunteers Jo Graham and Pamela Jones with Lady
Monckton and hospice chief executive Vicki Morrey
stone, received her 20-year service award. She said: “They are such a wonderful team at Starnes Court and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The Heart of Kent Hospice has
more than 600 volunteers, with roles ranging from maintaining the hos- pice gardens, serving in the coffee shop, helping in the hospice shops to supporting patients in the day ther- apy centre.
NHS West Kent CCG news
CQC criticised IAN Ayres, chief officer of the NHSWest Kent Clinical Commis- sioningGroup (CCG), has told his governing body “there were is- sues of inappropriateness regard- ing some comments” made by the Care Quality Commission in its criticisms of Maidstone and Tun- bridgeWells hospitals. He reported the trust had raised
these with the commission and theCCGhadwritten toNHSEng- land on behalf of the trust.
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Poor response THE CCG has been told that local patients are getting “a less re- sponsive” ambulance service for the highest category calls. The problem is being pursued by the urgent care board.
Service fear THE CCG has been told there are “various issues” concerning local dermatology services, which are now not seen as fit for purpose and aren’t meeting patient needs.
Maidstone Town September 2014 Down trend
THE majority of patients in West Kent continue to feel they have a good experience ofGP and out-of- hours services – but latest results show a reduction in positive expe- riences. This finding continues the downward trend since 2011/12.
Homes care
WEST Kent CCG has set up a meeting to improve care and practice in nursing and residential homes. Itwants visits to be seen as supportive.
cil 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. Sofa surfing, sleeping rough and living in unsuitable or temporary accommodation all contribute to the homeless “mix” and can bring significant costs to local housing authorities.
The council hopes a revision to its allocation scheme will give pri- ority to local residents and those who contribute to the community – with paid or unpaid work or sub- scribing to 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.
New vicar at
town churches MAIDSTONE curate Ian Parrish has been appointed priest-in- charge of three churches in the town.
The Rev Parrish will be respon- sible for All Saints’ in Mill Street, St Philip’s in Waterloo Street and St Stephen’s in Tovil.
He takes on the role from the Rev Canon Chris Morgan Jones, who has retired. Rev Parrish will resign as assistant curate of St Paul’s in Maidstone on October 20.
The licensing service will be conducted by the Bishop of Dover at All Saints’ Church in Maid- stone, on October 21.
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