As the numbers of homeless in Maidstone climb higher, one charity hopes to stem the tide by offering people down on their luck a new place to help turn things around.

Maidstone Community Hub in Queen Anne Road was formally unveiled by Second Chance Housing Support Charity.

It offers free housing advice, support and education to anyone who is homeless, threatened with homelessness or worried about their housing situation.

The charity was founded by Penny Keevil of Midkent Residential Services CIC (trading as MRS Lettings CIC), which has built up a network of landlords in Medway and Maidstone who offer accessible and affordable rental accommodation to those homeless or on housing benefit.

The opening was attended by Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, and the ceremony included poems read by many people who had turned their lives around.

It also included a celebration of Black History Month.

Mrs Keevil said: “There is an awful lot of homelessness in Maidstone. It can be you or me – it could happen to any of us.

“Whatever has happened, people can come to us and we can signpost them to other organisations and help find them somewhere to live.”

“People want to get back into the community. They want to get homes.”

The hub is based at Coronet House in Queen Anne Road, which is used free of charge while Second Chance look for a more permanent home.

Mrs Keevil said she is seeking to recruit five volunteers to offer longer opening times.

Drop in appointments are available from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays and help can be arranged by calling 01634 408840.