Kent woman who was homeless at 13 backs awareness event

A woman who lived on the streets aged 13 is supporting a homelessness awareness event in Kent.

Kerri Douglas, originally from Erith, is an ambassador for Kent CEO Sleepout at Leeds Castle later this month.

Ms Douglas said "the problem in Kent is getting worse" and "that has to change".

A government spokesperson said it was "spending an unprecedented £2.4bn to help people at risk of homelessness and to support rough sleepers".

The event is intended to raise awareness and funds for homelessness causes in the county by asking business leaders to sleep outdoors for a night.

Now an author and public speaker, Ms Douglas said she was trying to help tackle Kent's homelessness problem.

She said: "I was 11 when I moved into Kent's foster care system and from then my situation only got worse.

"By the time I was 13, I was in London just as "cardboard city" was coming to an end.

"I shouldn't have been in that position. No child should."

Ms Douglas now has her own accommodation where she lives with her teenage twins.

Last year the Kent event raised £38,000.

Bianca Robinson, chief executive of CEO Sleepout, said: "In a perfect world, CEO Sleepout wouldn't exist and our dream is to one day reach that point.

"But the sad reality is that more people than ever before are either homeless or are on the cusp of losing their home, so our services - and the charities we support - are more needed than ever."

A government spokesperson said: "We have given local authorities in Kent up to £17m through the Rough Sleeping Initiative.

"Whilst we have made good progress and rough sleeping remains below pre-pandemic levels, there is more work to be done to meet our ambition."

The Kent CEO Sleepout takes place at Leeds Castle on 25 March.

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