A man living on the streets said he was homeless for so long he couldn't sleep in a bed when he finally got a roof over his head.

For another year, The Kent Messenger is supporting the Maidstone Day Centre in Knightrider Street through its You Can Help Christmas campaign to collect vital food for those most in need.

Each year brave men and women, who would normally not speak up because of the stigma surrounding homelessness, share their stories to help give unfortunate members of our community a face.

Colin, 48, who has been bouncing between the streets and sofa surfing since 2006, was finally housed in 2015 thanks to staff at the day centre.

"It took me three months to get in a bed," he said. "I got so used to sleeping on concrete a bed was too comfortable. I couldn’t sleep in it so I just gradually kept getting up into it for five minutes a night until I finally slept."

Despite having to get used to the bed, Colin has escaped the threat of violence on the streets.

"It can be dangerous, especially on a Friday and Saturday night when you get all the idiots drinking, they do tend to have a go at you," said the former security guard. "I’ve been lucky but a lot of people I know who have been doing this haven’t - they were beaten up and robbed."

Colin's luck showed itself one night when a chip shop owner saved him from a drunken gang.

"Four blokes came down the road and decided they were going to start on me because I was homeless," He remembered. I was fortunate that night, the bloke that owned the chip shop I was sitting outside of came out and told them where to go. If he hadn’t I would probably have ended up in hospital."

To help people like Colin and keep them out of danger the Maidstone Day Centre relies of donations from the public.

During the run up to Christmas the charity is appealing for non-perishable food to keep stores stocked up and lasting into the new year and you can help.

Collection points can be found in Sainsbury in Romney Place, Maidstone, Sainsbury’s in Mills Road, Larkfield, Morrison’s in Sutton Road, Maidstone, Waitrose in Allington Park, and the Kent Messenger offices at 6 & 7 Middle Row, Maidstone.

The campaign is also being supported by eight schools, three churches, three GP surgeries, and The Mall in Pad’s Hill Maidstone.

To find out more about Homeless Care or the Maidstone Day Centre please visit www.homelesscare.org.uk