Brighton's Homeless Residents Relocated to Eastbourne in Controversial Council Policy
Renowned for its Regency architecture, luxurious seafront hotels, and acclaimed dining scene, Brighton attracts millions of visitors annually. The city's celebrated tolerance, liberal values, and welcoming spirit also encourage many to settle permanently. However, this image as an 'oasis of niceness' and a 'city of sanctuary' faces serious challenges due to a contentious policy affecting its homeless population.
Homeless individuals allege that Brighton and Hove City Council is attempting to 'airbrush' them from visibility by removing them from Brighton and relocating them to Eastbourne. Over the past two years, dozens have been transferred from their birthplace to a coastal town twenty miles away, severing crucial connections.
Personal Stories of Displacement
Dan Hylands, 34, who became homeless several years ago, describes being abruptly shipped out of his hometown. 'They literally just booked me a taxi and shipped me all the way over here,' he said. 'They just dumped me here.' Mr Hylands, who has Asperger's Syndrome, previously resided in Brighton hostels but was moved to an out-of-borough placement last July, disrupting his disability treatment and support network.
Nick Carpenter, 45, a father-of-three, became homeless last October after separating from his partner of 17 years. 'I ended up on the streets,' he recalled. 'It was not a good time. I couldn't find anywhere to live.' Moved from Lewes to Eastbourne, this relocation has further destabilized his fragile mental health. 'I'm out of my comfort zone in Eastbourne. I don't have any of my friends or family or support network here,' he explained.
Both men highlight how affluent councils avoid high local rents by moving homeless people to cheaper areas. 'It's really cynical. It's people's lives they're affecting here,' Mr Carpenter emphasized, noting difficulties visiting his children.
Charity Perspectives and Statistical Reality
Alex Haward of Matthew 25, a Christian homelessness charity providing food, shelter, and mental health services in Eastbourne, estimates 70-80 new arrivals from Brighton since late 2024. 'We're not being overwhelmed just yet but it's got a lot busier in the last couple of years,' he observed.
Haward criticizes the policy: 'Councils are picking up very vulnerable people and removing them from their family, friends and support networks and then dumping them in Eastbourne.' He attributes this largely to cost-saving, as rents in Brighton and Lewes exceed those in Eastbourne.
Statistics underscore the scale: Shelter's 2024 analysis reveals one in 77 Brighton residents is homeless, compared to one in 160 across England. Brighton council sent 42 people to Eastbourne in 2023, but this surged fourfold to 171 by January, according to Eastbourne Borough Council figures.
Inter-Council Conflict and Political Responses
The policy has sparked a fierce dispute between the councils. Eastbourne, led by the Liberal Democrats, accuses Brighton of causing 'significantly negative impact,' with tensions escalating after two homeless men from Brighton died in Eastbourne emergency accommodation last year. Although a coroner ruled accommodation wasn't a factor, Eastbourne demands the policy end.
Councillor Peter Diplock, Eastbourne's cabinet member for Housing and Homelessness, stated: 'We are calling for urgent action to bring this situation under control. This council prioritises supporting residents in need, but we cannot continue to act as a pressure valve for neighbouring authorities.'
Josh Babarinde, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne, advocates for stricter criteria on out-of-borough placements: 'Out of borough placements should never be made for financial reasons because it betrays those people being placed.' He is lobbying the government for financial disincentives against unnecessary relocations.
Community Impact and Resident Concerns
Eastbourne, traditionally a retirement destination with 28% of adults retired, faces growing homelessness visible in tent communities near the train station and seafront. Residents Albert and Gillian Andrews, who moved from Watford nine years ago, note the change. 'There are far more of them, camping out in the parks,' said Mrs Andrews, 73. Mr Andrews, 77, added: 'Obviously its cheaper for Brighton to dump its homeless people here where the rents are cheaper but it isn't fair.'
Local business owners like Philippa Nelson and Debbie Howarth worry about tourism impacts. 'It's very visible these days,' said Mrs Nelson, while Mrs Howarth asserted: 'Simply dumping people here because it's cheaper is wrong.'
Brighton Council's Defense
Brighton and Hove City Council defends its actions, noting placements in Eastbourne have decreased from a peak of 198 in September 2025, with 402 households currently in out-of-area temporary accommodation. Councillor Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing, explained: 'We have some of the south east's best figures for prevention of homelessness, but the demand for emergency and temporary accommodation far exceeds the amount available to us in the city.'
She emphasized efforts to increase local housing and reduce Eastbourne placements, calling criticism 'wildly inaccurate, extremely unfair and undermining.' Williams also condemned dehumanizing political rhetoric, stressing the complex challenges councils face nationwide.
This ongoing controversy highlights systemic issues in homelessness management, where financial pressures clash with ethical responsibilities, leaving vulnerable individuals caught between bureaucratic decisions and community tensions.
