Dozens of vulnerable young adults are at risk of homelessness after a decision to slash a crucial sheltered housing scheme.

Trinity Foyer, in Church Street, Maidstone, has helped young adults with accommodation since it opened in December 1998.

However, following a change of service providers, residents have been given just one month to find somewhere else to live.

Trinity Foyer lends a helping hand to people aged 16 to 24 who have strained relationships with family members or have found themselves homeless for a number of reasons.

The news comes after it was agreed Home Group would no longer provide the service and instead Look Ahead will give support to those aged 16 and 17, leaving older people with nowhere to live.

Ashley Jane, 21, was told the news last week and has struggled to come to terms with the situation.

He said: "Clients and staff had a meeting with management. A new company is coming in because the old provider doesn't want to do it and that contract starts on April 1.

"There are 58 of us now that have basically got to find somewhere to live.

"At first I don't think any of us realised what we had been told. Then when we slept on it we thought 'woah, a month isn't long at all'.

"If I can't find a place to live then I'm essentially homeless. People are going to just be back on the streets.

"There are 58 of us now that have basically got to find somewhere to live" - Ashley Jane

"I was homeless and struggled with life but over time I have become friends with a lot of people and the staff are like family."

The shock closure has led to fears they could be forced to live on Maidstone's streets.

Panic has also set in that these people may have to turn to crime in order to simply survive.

A grandmother of a resident, who did not want to be named, said: "My grandson is in Trinity Foyer and he is in a state. He has been there more than 12 months and they have been told they have to leave within a month.

"There are 58 vulnerable young adults and Maidstone Borough Council have now got to rehouse some of them. How can they rehouse in a place that's overpopulated already?

"It is going to cause havoc because they are going to be on the streets.

"Their benefits are going to stop and there will be thieving. There will be riots.

"I have been up to Trinity Foyer and their staff are fantastic and they do a great job. To say everybody has to go within a month is unbelievable."

Kent County Council has been contacted for a comment.