The number of people sleeping rough across Maidstone has dropped by more than 90% in just over a year, according to new figures.

Councils have a statutory annual requirement to count the number of rough sleepers on its streets, with the figure then verified by an officer from Homeless Link.

Last week, three people were found to be sleeping rough across the borough - down from 48 who were discovered on the streets in a count in September 2018.

John Littlemore, head of housing at Maidstone Borough Council said: “Our Outreach team have offered support to accommodate those individuals found.

“We developed the Street Outreach Team to help rough sleepers rebuild their lives and to reduce the number of people living on our streets.

“Individuals quite often have complex issues and need a variety of services to help them lead healthier, happier lives.

"We support them to access benefits or employment, GP’s and healthcare, treatment and support for substance misuse and access to mental health services.

"We also provide them with basic life skills, such as budgeting, cooking and other skills to prepare them to live independently.”

“Within the last 12 months, the outreach team have reduced rough sleeping by more than 90%.

"The team continues to support many individuals with complex needs who now live in their own accommodation.

"This approach has seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour and other associated issues and been recognised by partner agencies, including the police.”

It comes as figures from the Office for National Statistics show an estimated seven homeless people died Maidstone between 2013 and 2018.

"We also provide them with basic life skills, such as budgeting, cooking and other skills to prepare them to live independently" - John Littlemore, head of housing at Maidstone council

Across England and Wales, 726 homeless people died in 2018 – up 22% from the previous year, and 51% more than in 2013.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said: "This is now the second year running where we have known the true scale of the human cost of homelessness, yet still the lessons from these tragic deaths go unlearnt."

The Government said in response it is investing £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and its causes.

Anyone who finds a rough sleeper is asked to let the council know by emailing outreach@maidstone.gov.uk or by visiting streetlink.org.uk, where details will then be passed on to the local team, who in turn will find the individual and offer support.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone