A homeless charity has warned “we are all one step away” from no longer having a roof over our heads, as it appeals for donations to help those in desperate need.

Maidstone Homeless Care says it can take just one crisis or tragedy to tip people over the edge and into poverty.

The “lifeline” charity is now appealing for donations to support those without a warm bed, enough food or a shoulder to lean on this Christmas.

The charity runs a day centre tucked away in Knightrider Street and cares for, on average, 312 rough sleepers a month.

It is headed by a team of 12 – seven are full-time staff, and the rest are volunteers.

Centre manager Heidi Griffen, who joined a year ago, proudly points out bags to be given out filled with cans, fruit, festive sweets for children and toiletries including items such as shower gel to tampons - the sort of things many of us may take for granted.

This month it has given out 88 food parcels, feeding 217 people.

The main building features her office, a shower and toilet, a communal area with a kitchen serving hot food and a living space full of storage.

Out back, there is a small seated area and sheds neatly shelved and stocked with all kinds of necessities.

On the day we visited, it was the shelter’s Christmas dinner. Hand-made decorations by school children were proudly displayed on walls and a table sat in the middle of the room with a festive-themed cover.

In the corner of the room, there was a tree with gifts underneath, collected from homeware store Dunelm as part of its Delivering Joy campaign.

Heidi said: “It’s having those human touches. When I go home, put my fairy lights on and take off my shoes - I can’t imagine not doing that.

“I’ve always felt very lucky.”

In the last year, the charity has been working towards taking a softer approach to what people understand homelessness to be, often using social media to do so.

It has also shifted its focus to help move its “guests” along by having “honest conversations” and finding out where they have been, where they are at and what they need.

The 51-year-old added: “Everyone’s got a story.

“There is a misconception that homeless people are tramps but actually most people have had a crisis or tragedy that has tipped them over the edge.”

These can stem from a relationship breakdown to being served a section 21 notice where a tenant can be evicted with no reason given.

Nigel Dalmon has been volunteering at the centre for four months after being encouraged by his wife and says he ”hasn’t looked back since”.

The 69-year-old said: “I’ve never met a nicer group of people. You can’t solve their problems but you’re somebody to talk to.

“Everybody is only one step away from being homeless.”

And, this is very much the case for one lady who has been using the shelter for some time now.

Seven years ago Michelle was an electrician and had been working away in France for nine months.

Just a day after returning to her home in Biddenden, her house burned down. The fire started in the kitchen and left her homeless.

She has been sleeping rough ever since, living out of her van, but has been using the day centre for two years after the homeless charity Porchlight intervened.

She said: “I come here three times a week. I’m normally the first person here at five or six in the morning and come to take a shower and have some tea.

“This is a lifeline.”

As well as providing warmth, shelter and food, the service calls in doctors and nurses to get people medical care, and works closely with job agencies to help people find work.

But with winter approaching, more and more people will need to use the service. Demand peaks in January and February as the days get colder.

If you would like to make a donation - whether it be food, clothing or money - and help the shelter to continue its support of those who are homeless, contact Heidi by emailing manager@homelesscare.org.uk or by phone at 01622 674064.

The manager said: “Thank you for everyone’s kindness and for sharing it with us because we wouldn’t manage without people doing what they do.”