East Kent Leaders United: Pioneering Rural Housing First to Tackle Hidden Homelessness Crisis

In a roundtable meeting held on April 9^th, local authorities, housing associations and homelessness organisations across East Kent came together to share an innovative feasibility study on implementing Housing First approaches in rural communities.

Revealing the Invisible Crisis

Professor Helen Carr from the University of Southampton opened the session with stark research findings from a study commissioned by English Rural and partners. The research revealed a troubling 24% rise in rural rough sleeping in just one year, alongside a 65% funding gap between rural and urban areas for homelessness prevention services.

“Homelessness in rural areas is often hidden. Despite the prevailing image of homelessness as an urban problem, we know it occurs anywhere,” explained Professor Carr. “Sparsity, remoteness and other socio-geographical challenges may render rural homelessness less visible, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.“

The research highlighted how shame and stigma in rural communities create powerful barriers to seeking support. One contributor described how she slept on a bench after her tent was disturbed, relying on a local farmer for clean water while getting into trouble with police for lighting fires to keep warm—a vivid illustration of the unique challenges faced in rural settings.

Housing First: A Proven Approach

Tom Neumark, Chief Executive of the homelessness and mental health charity, Porchlight, presented compelling evidence for the Housing First model, which provides stable housing alongside flexible, non-conditional support for as long as needed.

“Housing First means giving people a stable home alongside flexible, non-conditional support for as long as is needed,” Neumark explained. “This differs from other supported housing models because people don’t have to prove they’re ready for independent living.“

Neumark highlighted how Housing First has proven particularly effective in rural settings: “Expecting people in rural areas to travel to access housing support is unrealistic and inefficient. Housing First means flexible support that travels to people, allowing clients to maintain their existing support networks rather than being asked to build up entirely new ones.”

From Concept to Reality: The East Kent Feasibility Study

Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural Housing Association, presented findings from the East Kent Rural Housing First feasibility project, which brought together Porchlight, Commonweal Housing and local authorities across East Kent.

“The project partners felt that with sufficient resource and support, a service would be feasible,” Collett said. “We’re not talking huge numbers here—it would be feasible to pull properties together and get the backing of support workers needed to get a project up and running across East Kent.“

The proposed model would establish a pool of one and two-bed homes across East Kent, supported by dedicated workers resourced to provide intensive support. Based on Porchlight’s experience, the study concluded that two support workers and a part-time coordinator would be sufficient to deliver 8-12 housing units.

Collaborative Next Steps

Tracey Kerly, Chief Executive of Ashford Borough Council, emphasised the potential of the project while highlighting funding challenges:

“What’s really important is how we get the revenue to make that person’s life easier and keep them in supportive accommodation. That is a huge additional cost.“

The roundtable participants agreed to draft a letter for East Kent leaders to send to key government ministers, including Angela Rayner and the relevant DEFRA minister, advocating for the necessary funding to implement the project.

Brian Horton, chair of Kent Housing Group, summarised the consensus:

“With the right resources, as a coalition of the willing, we are ready to work to make this happen. The timing is not accidental—we need something that is accessible and backed up for policymakers to consider during this comprehensive spending review as they build financial plans across this Parliament.“

A Call to Action

This pioneering initiative represents a crucial step towards addressing the often-overlooked crisis of rural homelessness. With parish councils, housing associations, local authorities and support organisations working together, Housing First could transform the lives of vulnerable people in rural communities who have previously fallen through the cracks.

The feasibility study demonstrates that East Kent stands ready to implement this innovative approach—now it’s time for central government to provide the necessary funding and support to make it a reality.