According to Eastbourne Borough Council, Brighton and Hove City Council sent 42 people to be housed in Eastbourne in 2023, a number that has risen to 171 as of January this year. Alex Haward from the Christian homelessness charity Matthew 25 said there were between 70 and 80 new people from Brighton in Eastbourne relying on them since the end of 2024. Residents of Eastbourne have alleged their town is being used as a 'dumping ground' for homeless people by Brighton and Hove City Council.
Daniel Hylands, who became homeless several years ago, was effectively kicked out of Brighton, the city where he grew up. He had a social worker for adult disabilities and loads of support in Brighton, but his caseworkers changed after being moved to Eastbourne. Nick Carpenter, a father-of-three who became homeless in October last year, was also shipped off to Eastbourne.
They literally just booked me a taxi and shipped me all the way over here. They just dumped me here.
Alex Haward expressed disagreement with the approach, stating councils are removing vulnerable people from their support networks. The official policy or reason from Brighton and Hove City Council for sending homeless people to Eastbourne has not been disclosed.
I had a social worker for [my] adult disabilities. I had loads of support in Brighton, but because they’ve moved me over here, the caseworkers are not the same.