Folkestone & Hythe District Council has purchased a brand-new block of flats in central Folkestone specifically to support local residents facing homelessness.
These eight, two-bedroomed homes are designed to provide modern, safe, and energy-efficient short-term housing for families experiencing the crisis of having nowhere to live and because each flat is fully self-contained, it offers families the essential privacy and stability they need while they wait to move into permanent housing.
This strategic purchase is part of the council’s broader pledge to invest £5 million in supporting its residents. By expanding its own supply of council-owned temporary accommodation, the local authority aims to significantly improve housing standards while simultaneously reducing public costs. Investing in these council-owned flats directly reduces the reliance on private, nightly-let short-term accommodation, which has faced escalating prices in recent years.
Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Cllr Rebecca Shoob, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, noted that these new homes will provide safe, secure, and high-quality temporary accommodation for people when they need it most. She emphasized that by investing directly in their own housing stock, the council is successfully driving up standards for residents while reducing the overall expenses associated with relying on private sector provision.