More services are to be offered at a homeless shelter which provides food and support for rough sleepers.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is to open an outreach centre at The Beacon Centre in Bank Street in January.

It will complement the work that is already carried out at the site, which is next to Bright City Church, such as a foodbank.

ABC’s ‘single homeless team’ will operate from the centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to coincide with a lunch service organised by the church where rough sleepers gather for food, warmth and social support.

Bosses say 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, council officers will assess individuals’ needs, develop personalised support plans, and arrange appointments from 10am to 1pm.

ABC chief executive Tracey Kerly said the opening of the outreach centre is part of the authority’s efforts to support the rough-sleeping population.

“Many rough sleepers have complex needs and may not immediately engage with us,” she said.

“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.

“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.”

ABC says the second floor of The Beacon Centre will offer a quiet area for counselling and specialised support sessions.

It will also provide access to laptops for training, education, and life skills courses such as tenancy management and budgeting.