Homeless people in Gravesham are sleeping in cars as they struggle to survive on our streets.

Tom Griffith, 46, of the City Praise Centre, a church that runs out of The Woodville theatre, has set up a night shelter for the homeless in our area.

Mr Griffith, a minister for 20 years, said: “The people who are going to be coming to the shelter will be a real mix.

“Some will be sofa-surfing and some will be sleeping in cars, which can be just as cold as sleeping on the street in winter.

“We have a lot of people sleeping in their cars in Gravesham.”

The City Praise Centre is teaming up with Gravesend Methodist Church and faith network Gravesham Churches Together to run the shelter.

At the Methodist Church in Milton Road, people will be offered a shower, a hot meal, advice and access to a laundry service.

Mr Griffith explained his team of volunteers will also go out on the streets and teach people “survival skills” – ranging from how to keep warm to how to keep safe.

He said: “It’s a real mix of people that we’ve got out on the streets at the moment. It is everything from middle-aged Polish guys, to people coming out of prison; we also had a nurse come to us.

“One person we spoke to came out of prison with a handout of £46 and the clothes on his back and obviously no one was going to employ him because of his past. If you’ve no home, no bank account and if you’re sleeping rough you often have your stuff nicked, which includes paperwork, that can be expensive to replace. It’s a horrible cycle.”

Speaking ahead of Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn budget announcement, the minister did not want to get locked into a political debate but said problems for the homeless were mounting.

He said: “The number of people out on the streets is growing – and it is for various reasons.

“Sometimes it’s to do with a person’s mental health or the prices of housing or if what the government gives them for housing benefits isn’t enough.

“The cuts to various services has made the problems worsen, particularly regarding the agencies who are working with these people or groups who help people with drug issues.”

Mr Griffith also commented on Gravesham council’s proposed public spaces protection order, which would give enforcement officers the power to move rough sleepers on. He said: “Some of the recent decisions to move the homeless from certain areas in the town, I don’t think that’s the way forward.”

The shelter will be open on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights from 6pm. For information call the City Praise Centre 01474 356773.