00:00Mate Stone had the highest number of homelessness assessments in Kent last year.
00:04As it remains a major issue in the town, Andy Burnham has pledged to get people off the streets for
00:10Christmas nationally.
00:12But one charity says more needs to be done to tackle the problem in the long term.
00:17So this is the car park where Hungry Hearts is stationed.
00:20They give out free food to the homeless community and rely entirely on donation.
00:25Hungry Hearts has been supporting people experiencing homelessness in Mate Stone since 2017.
00:31Volunteers provide free food, drinks and clothes twice a week, as well as longer term support to help people get
00:38back on their feet.
00:40This is Kerry. She's no longer homeless, but is asked not to be identified on camera.
00:44She says Hungry Hearts was a lifeline after she was rehomed when she struggled to afford basic essentials.
00:51What is being here kind of giving me, obviously I'm not just talking about food, is it a tree is
00:56easy?
00:56Yeah, we're definitely committed, definitely support.
00:58That's alright.
00:59They've helped me with loads of things, clothes, clothes, food.
01:04People, I see, they're only saying that she's in trouble for us.
01:07But the charity can't tackle homelessness alone.
01:10While volunteers welcome Andy Burnham's plan to get people off the streets for Christmas,
01:15they say it won't solve the long term problem.
01:17And some may be reluctant to accept temporary accommodation because of past trauma.
01:22I used to be homeless, but I used to work with other soup kitchens as well.
01:26So I was homeless myself back in the days and I just want to give back.
01:30And I think it's a good cause because they're human beings and they just need to be lifted back up
01:35like I was,
01:35nurtured back up into a certain society.
01:38Yeah, everyone tries to judge them like they drive on drugs and they drink.
01:43It's behind them.
01:45The core, there's a core behind them.
01:46The reason why they are like they are.
01:48People are scared to stay in houses.
01:50They think someone's going to come through the doors.
01:53These people who have been out of here have been institutionalised for a long time.
01:56I think there's nothing worse.
01:57There's nothing more painful than, for me, when I come here and I see someone.
02:03I know when I first started, we used to put people up for the night when it was too cold.
02:08For those working on the front line, the focus is on more than just getting people off the streets.
02:13It's about ensuring they have access to the support and accommodation they need in the long term.
02:18Maisie Walker for KMTV, Maitstone.
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