A charity’s decision to scrap its winter shelter for the homeless has forced the council to step in amid fears people could die on the streets.

Cash-strapped Catching Lives, based in Canterbury, says it cannot afford to run the church-based provision for rough sleepers this year.

The homelessness charity has been running its winter shelter since 2010, providing warm, overnight accommodation between December and February.

During the pandemic, the Youth Hostel Association and local B&Bs helped keep the service running.

Last year, the shelter did not run but Catching Lives extended its winter hours and hoped to bring it back this year.

The city council has now confirmed there will be significant support available to look after rough sleepers this winter after it secured £50,000 in government funding to provide additional bed spaces in the district.

Spokesman Rob Davies said: "This is something we are directly managing ourselves, and currently we are working with partners and accommodation providers to finalise the arrangements.

"Due to a change in the way government funding is provided, the money could not be used to support Catching Lives to deliver a 'traditional' winter shelter that we have seen in previous years.

"But it remains the case that we work very closely with Catching Lives, who do such incredible work all year round, to support the most vulnerable in society - and especially in the cold winter months.”

Mr Davies says the council’s rough sleeper team is out and about in the district regularly to make sure homeless people are identified.

The authority aims to ensure all those it works with will have a personal housing plan to help bring their time on the streets to an end.

"In some cases, this can take months - maybe even years - to achieve due to the often highly complex needs these individuals have,” he added.

"Sadly, some individuals decline all the support that is on offer, and we must recognise that this is their right.

"Anyone concerned about a rough sleeper should alert the authorities via StreetLink."

It costs about £50,000 to £60,000 to run a three-month winter shelter.

The model is overnight accommodation in seven church halls, a different one each night of the week.

Tasmin Maitland, CEO of Catching Lives, says the cost-of-living crisis has made this year a challenging one with a “double whammy” of people needing its services and the public having less money to support charities.

On average, 30 people a day visit the charity and it costs about £19 per person a day to cover essential help.

Mrs Maitland said: “Sleeping rough is unsafe at any time of year, but during harsh winter weather these risks are so much higher.

“We worry that people could die on the streets this winter."

The city council has not yet confirmed where the accommodation will be.