THE housing crisis in the South East is hitting people in the Medway area hard, with victims of domestic violence being among the worst affected.

Demand for council homes has outstripped supply and Medway Council is warning the Government that the situation is getting worse.

It is particularly difficult for the many vulnerable people who need support and help.

A new draft strategy - Supporting People - says many people living in the Medway Towns who need help are being moved to other boroughs because there aren't the homes they require locally.

This is despite having nearly 14,000 homes owned by the council, mhs Homes and registered social landlords. The officers' report warns that the council is having to put more and more homeless families in to bedsits because they don't have sufficient housing.

The report says: "In recent years, demand has outstripped supply and, in common with other areas of Kent, homelessness has been rising and there has been an increased reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation, which we are working hard to eliminate."

Members of the council's Cabinet will discuss the report tomorrow.