Facing up to the growing problem of homelessness

CHRISTMAS parties, festive decorations and over-indulgence are an uncomfortable contrast to the fact that people remain homeless.

Gravesend's House of Mercy in Edwin Street, which has offered shelter and direction for the homeless for almost a decade, has seen the situation get worse.

The centre was established by Gravesend's Sisters of Mercy and the Presentation Brothers in Dartford who were concerned at the increasing numbers seeking help at the convent.

It provides accommodation for six people for up to six months and runs a drop-in centre. It needs an annual £65,000 to stay afloat with half the funding coming from the two religious orders and the rest through fundraising.

Visitors get support and are directed to services which can help with debt, drug or alcohol problems and other issues which each individual might have.

Over the last year, the centre has accommodated 48 people and 132 different visitors at the day centre - the majority of whom come from Gravesend and surrounding areas.

The hostel, which provides shelter for people as young as 16, is currently full and, for the first time, all six spaces are taken by women.

Deputy manager Brother Roy Kennedy, said: "I have seen an increase in general homelessness and a marked increase in the number of young people and females who are homeless."

The reason for this, he said, is hard to explain, as each case is different, but family breakdowns contribute to the large number of young people leaving home.

Women can become homeless because of a relationship breakdown too, and also because they are fleeing mental, physical or sexual abuse.

"Women know their rights," said Brother Kennedy. "And they know they do not have to accept what's going on. The House of Mercy helps them find their feet again."

This Christmas, Gravesham mayor Cllr Valerie Ashenden, will be visiting the centre in the morning and a Christmas lunch will be served by Brother Kennedy and the four other members of staff to residents and day centre visitors.

"We always try to make Christmas special," Brother Kennedy said.

Homeless charities have been quick to respond to government claims it has cut the number of people sleeping rough to 550 across the country.

They say the problem is ongoing and getting worse, a fact the House of Mercy would agree with.

National homeless charities Shelter and Crisis argue work must not stop to help those who are still on the streets, especially bearing in mind so many living in temporary accommodation bed and breakfasts, hostels and sleeping on friends' floors return to the streets.

For information on how you can help, call Crisis on 0870 001 3335 or Shelter's supporter help desk on 0845 458 4590. Anyone facing housing difficulties can call Shelterline free on 0808 800 4444.

l There are 400,000 hidden homeless in England.

l More than a quarter sleeping rough are there because of relationship breakdowns.*

l Last year, more than 21,700 households were found by local authorities to be homeless in the south-east. A further 42,000 households were homeless in London.

l Two in 10 sleeping rough have lost a tenancy or home.

l For every rough sleeper in England, there are more than 500 people living in temporary accommodation.

l More than a third of people sleeping on the streets have alcohol or drug problems while more than a quarter have mental health problems.

l 95 per cent of homelessness is hidden because of being in temporary accommodation.

l A record 75,320 households are housed in temporary accommodation across the country.

l 38 per cent of people currently in hostels came straight from the streets while 37 per cent will be sleeping rough again.

l An estimated 139,260 homeless people have been turned away by local authorities this year.

l The average homeless person has been without a home for more than seven years.

*Statistics from Crisis and Shelter.

December 21, 2001 16:00