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As part of our ongoing place-based engagement, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 38 residents living in Chatham in September 2026, to understand how their local environment affects their health and wellbeing.
74% of residents we spoke to raised concerns about crime and safety. Of these, 64% mentioned issues with drugs and alcohol, with some identifying this as a particular issue among people experiencing homelessness.
“[People who are experiencing homelessness] just generally hang around in the high street using drugs and alcohol. There's also a lack of help for mental health, drug addiction etc.”
“Chatham is ok, but there is a lot of smoking weed and drug use all hours of the day. I don't want to see people on drugs and drunk when there are kids and elderly around it is just distressing for them.”
“The police are not taking action on anything. My wellbeing is worse from living here.”
Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway’s 2024 report on Substance Use and Access to Mental Health Services also highlighted barriers to accessing mental health support for people with drug and alcohol issues in Kent and Medway.
29% of residents we spoke to in Chatham told us about issues with homelessness in the area. Additionally, residents across Medway have raised concerns around housing developments and lack of social housing in 2026.
“Council housing here is in short supply. They have all these new flats but they're going to Londoners. People on the waiting list are having to wait a long time. The Council are just sticking 2 fingers up at them.”
“There's a large homeless population here with lots of rough sleepers and meanwhile you've got these flats that cost £250,000 and up being built while there's homeless people's tents in their shadow.”
In their report, the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities highlight a 6% increase in adults in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services between April 2024 and March 2025, the highest number since reporting began, and 21% of those needing treatment identified as not having a home of their own. Research suggests that substance use is around 10 times more likely among adults experiencing homelessness compared to the general population.
Locally, in their Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, Medway Council referenced an increase in people on the social housing register, making homeless applications and those sleeping rough. Between 2020 and 2024, there was an increase of 90% in households approaching the council for assistance. Additionally, in their 2025 Local Housing Needs Assessment, Medway Council found that house prices in Medway have risen by over 24.1%, compared with 22.5% nationally.
Housing is widely recognised as a fundamental determinant of health and wellbeing. People experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health and are more likely to use emergency healthcare services. Homelessness also has an effect on the wider community. Research suggests that “seeing people struggle on the streets can create unease and uncertainty, making individuals less likely to engage with or support one another”.
Additionally, a 2024 study found that 85% of homeless people surveyed shared that they had experienced unfair treatment in public settings, due to the stigma around homelessness. These misconceptions can further isolate those in need. Evidence highlights a strong relationship between community engagement, social cohesion, life satisfaction and wellbeing. We found evidence of reduced social cohesion during our engagement, with several residents mentioning not feeling safe and not coming into Chatham unless they feel they absolutely have to.
Reduced social cohesion was observed during our engagement, with several residents also mentioning not feeling safe and not coming into Chatham unless they feel they absolutely have to.
“It seems the homeless people have started camping [in the car park] and they seem to be drunk and littering and it makes me on edge so I won't even use the footpaths now I only walk where it is very visible. You take a few steps from there into the town and you just see such deprivation, people on drugs and drunk… I am always on edge, looking about and wondering what is happening. I purposely park in the closest car park to where I am going so I feel less unsafe. I only really come into the centre for the dentist or something I have to.”
Therefore, homelessness may be having an impact on the wider Chatham community, not only those who are directly affected.
In the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, Medway Council commit to improve understanding around homelessness, by educating both residents and professionals on key issues and how homelessness can be prevented. People with lived experience of homelessness should be central to this work, helping to co-produce awareness campaigns and community work. Improving awareness and reducing stigma may result in health benefits for both housed residents and people experiencing homelessness in Chatham, contributing to the Marmot aim to “ensure a healthy standard of living for all”.
Bias and Limitations
Residents we spoke to were those who were available and willing to speak to us at the time and location of each engagement event. Therefore, the sample is not representative of the Chatham population. These findings should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than conclusive evidence.
