Neighbour outrage at planned homeless shelter
A Southborough resident has spoken out against a proposed shelter for homeless people.
The direct access night shelter could open by December if plans are approved to use St John's Methodist Church hall on Vale Road.
It would serve homeless people across west Kent, who currently have nowhere to go in cold weather.
Steve Farr of Southborough believes local people will be "beside themselves with anger" if the shelter goes ahead.
"This is in a residential area where there are young families, families with adolescents and even vulnerable adults."
But Wayfarer Project spokesman John Willington defended the plans: "Our aim is to create a facility that Southborough can be proud of, spearheading the provision of services, leading the way to alleviating social issues, coming alongside people with homeless needs throughout the borough."
For full story see this Friday's Kent and Sussex Courier.
To read the Kent and Sussex Courier's coverage on the homeless problem in west Kent visit www.thisiskent.co.uk/homeless
8 Comments
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by guttersnype, local
Monday, February 09 2009, 4:42PM
“i thin homeless people are great who can forget the entertainment value that duvet man and all all his give us,i would happilly have them living near me all homeless people got a story”
by Steve, Groombridge
Monday, February 09 2009, 9:15AM
“Having worked with homeless people in the past the fears expressed by Steve Farr are totally unfounded. He cannot make the assumptions that young people and children are at risk from homeless people. The majority are very polite and grateful for the help they receive. Most do not choose to be homeless, they are victims of all kinds of situations. The least we can do is help them.”
by Jock, Kent
Thursday, February 05 2009, 1:16PM
“The level of intolerance shown by people like Steve Farr and others like him is astounding, and they should be ashamed of themselves for showing such ignorance.
This is a classic case of NIMBY, based on the incorrect assumption that all homeless people are drug addicted burlging pedophile alcoholics.
This ignorant and isolating attitude sums up everything that is wrong with our society, and these self serving principals will rub off on our children.
Homeless people need our help and should not be excluded or forgotten about.
There needs to be facilities to help people less fortunate than us. It needs to go somewhere, so why not Southborough ?
Having lived near a homeless shelter I can confirm that the crime rate did not go up, no one was burgled, no one was offended. Nor were any children approached by Special Brew soaked perverts offering heroin sweets.
One day, Steve Farr, due to circumstances beyond your control, you could find yourself at rock bottom, homeless, and desperate.
How would you feel if Mr Intolerant (who lives in a warm three bed semi down the road) was preventing you from getting a warm drink and a roof over your head for a few nights.”
by peter, kent
Thursday, February 05 2009, 12:28PM
“There are plenty of people in the area who would be homeless too, if they were not living off the charity of the taxpayer, with housing benefit, and churning out kids for more money.”
by Alan Bullion, Tunbridge Wells
Thursday, February 05 2009, 11:34AM
“Steve Farr should count himself lucky. There will be a lot more homeless people the way this recession is going. And most of them are decent and hard-working as well, but thrown out of a job often through not fault of their own.”