Stepping up support for rough sleepers in Ashford

Ashford Borough Council is opening an Outreach Centre in January as part of renewed steps to support rough sleepers this winter.

Together with partners, the council is establishing the facility at the Beacon Centre in Bank Street, Ashford to complement the work of its outreach service. The council’s Single Homeless Team will operate from there three days a week (Mon/Wed/Frid), coinciding with the church’s lunch service on Mondays and Fridays, where rough sleepers gather for food, warmth and social support.

The Beacon Centre will offer a warm, welcoming space from 8:30am to 9:30am, providing a breakfast and drop-in service for rough sleepers. During this time, officers will assess individuals’ needs, develop personalised support plans, and facilitate appointments from 10am to 1pm.

Council Chief Executive Tracey Kerly said the opening of the Outreach Centre is part of ongoing efforts to support the rough sleeping population in our area.

She said: “In 2024, we commissioned a 12-bed supported accommodation hostel for single homeless individuals using funding from the Rough Sleeping Initiative fund. Additionally, under the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, we acquired 13 one-bedroom properties to further support this group.

“Within our Housing Options service, the Single Homeless Team, consisting of three dedicated Assessment and Resettlement officers, works with rough sleepers and individuals at risk of homelessness. They assess clients’ primary needs, offering guidance and support to connect them with external agencies, as well as helping them transition into suitable accommodation, including private rented sector (PRS) properties or supported housing.

“Since the implementation of the Everyone In directive during the pandemic, we have continued to place verified rough sleepers into temporary accommodation (TA), though, due to the high demand for TA, we must prioritise the most vulnerable individuals.

“This prioritisation is based on legal definitions set by housing law. While we are not legally obliged to offer TA to everyone, we have taken steps to ensure emergency support, including block booking three emergency bed spaces during the winter months. We also offer a shower facility through our partnership with the Stour Centre,” added Tracey Kerly.

ABC activates the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) whenever temperatures drop below freezing. SWEP was activated two weeks ago, allowing us to bring six rough sleepers into emergency accommodation. We have already helped three individuals move on to permanent housing, and the remaining three are currently accommodated under discretionary duties.

Tracey Kerly said: “Many rough sleepers have complex needs and may not immediately engage with us. Building a trusting relationship takes time, but we are committed to working with clients to help them transition away from life on the streets. We collaborate with specialist agencies, including those addressing drug and alcohol dependency, to provide tailored support. We have successfully helped several entrenched rough sleepers transition out of homelessness, despite their reluctance to leave their current lifestyle.

“We have just conducted an official rough sleeper count, identifying two individuals. The team is working with them to secure accommodation. We think there may be five or six others who meet the criteria for support but were not out on the streets that night. The transient nature of the rough sleeping population means people move between locations, so our team continues to make contact with as many individuals as possible to prevent rough sleeping.”

To enhance outreach efforts, ABC has outsourced its Outreach service to Serveco, who provide this service to several other Kent councils. This collaboration allows for more flexibility, with outreach sessions now held on Monday and Friday mornings between 4am and 8am.

Support for the Outreach Centre

In addition to offering a warm, welcoming space, providing a breakfast and drop-in service for rough sleepers, the second floor of the Beacon Centre will offer a quiet area for counselling and specialised support sessions.

ABC has already received positive interest from several local services, including Forward Trust (drug and alcohol services), NHS, Probation, Social Services, Mental Health, and DWP, who are keen to collaborate at the centre. Additionally, the Beacon Centre will provide access to laptops for training, education, and life skills courses such as tenancy management, budgeting and more.

Thanks to a generous donation of nearly £7,600 from Tenterden-based builder MGI Contracts Ltd, the council has secured match funding for the work required to open the Outreach Centre. Our thanks also go to the Ashford Rotary Club, which has offered sleeping bags, a washing machine, tumble dryer, computers and other items. 

Thanks also to the Headley Pitt Charitable Trust, which continues to support the council’s efforts to help rough sleepers. Grants of more than £3,000 have helped rough sleepers with clothing, household items as well as food and other needed items.

Finally, the council is grateful to Tesco Crooksfoot, which has raised more than £300 and is offering to supply tea and coffee to the Beacon Centre once it opens in January.