The leader of a Kent charity looking after the interests of homeless people in the county says rough sleeper numbers are going through a "frightening increase".

Porchlight, which is based in Cantebury, has a rough sleeper team which monitors the amount of people who are on the streets.

They found 707 people of all ages on the streets between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017, compared to 509 the previous year – a rise of 38%.

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Of these 134 were aged 25 or under, compared to 78 the previous year – a rise of 71%.

Porchlight’s chief executive Mike Barrett said: "This frightening increase in homelessness has been caused, I think, by two things - ferocious welfare cuts aimed at poor and vulnerable people, and the irresponsible housing policies of successive governments over the past 30 years.

"It’s now commonplace to see people living and sleeping on the streets. It appears to have become an accepted part of the austerity measure.

"Under-35s are among the hardest hit, and it gets worse the younger you are.

"Under-25s have seen their jobseeker’s allowance frozen and 18 to 21-year-olds have lost the automatic entitlement to housing benefit.

"Many people who work rely on benefits, but these are being cut and they now face the humiliating and life threatening risk of homelessness.

"How can we call ourselves a successful society, if the price of our comfort and safety is the suffering of those less fortunate than most of us?"

One of the main reasons people were on the streets was because of family trauma or where a relationship had broken down.

Kaya, from Tonbridge, was just 17 when she became homeless. A family relationship breakdown left her with nowhere to go and nobody to turn to.

She was barely out of childhood and sleeping on the streets.

She said: "I slept in parks and public toilets, but mostly I would walk all through the night rather than stay in one place. It was a frightening and I felt safer that way."

She spent three months out in the cold, only eating every two days. Sometimes she slept on people’s sofas, but the prospect of ending back on the streets was never far away.

Now 19, Kaya has been supported by Porchlight who found her a room in one of its hostels.

With somewhere safe and stable to live, she is able to overcome the emotionally damaging effects of homelessness.

"I felt so happy and relieved to have a place to stay. It was like a massive weight had lifted from my shoulders,” she added.

"Porchlight really helped me when I needed it. Thanks to them, my life has totally changed."

Kaya was able to go to college and study social care, something she’d always wanted to do.

The charity is now calling for donations to help support its work.

For more information visit its website.