Inside Kendal Court: Resident blames Brighton council for deaths

Sam Jeffery lives in Kendal Court, Newhaven, some 15 miles from his family and friends in Brighton and Hove.

The notorious 50-unit accommodation is where the city council sends many of its homeless people, who claim it is being used as a "dumping ground".

Campaigners say people are being "abandoned" at the block, away from the help from services in the city and "without a bus pass to get to them".

READ MORE: Woman's suicide attempt after nine-day nightmare

Born-and-bred Brightonian Mr Jeffery, who has lived in Kendal Court for nine weeks, is speaking out after a leaking pipe in his flat led to the discovery of a body on Friday.

The 32-year-old said: "I was sitting in my flat and heard a bang under my kitchen, my sink had flooded the two floors below me.

"Firemen had to break the door that's when they found the body. Had my flat not flooded, it would have sat there for a lot longer.

"I've heard reports it was there at least a week. I noticed the smell afterwards when I walked past the bottom floor."

READ MORE: Body found at Kendal Court in Newhaven

Sussex Police said a body of a man aged 58 was found on Friday morning. There were no suspicious circumstances and the Coroners Officer is continuing enquiries. He was last seen by accommodation staff on July 21, the council said.

A police spokesman added that two days later, officers were called after a man sustained superficial arm injuries. No other person was involved and there were no arrests.

The discovery of the body adds to the grim death toll associated with the block of flats, where eight residents died between 2016 and 2018 alone. Campaigners say the figure is now in the 20s.

"Every death here is blood on Brighton Council's hands," said Mr Jeffery, "Every single one of them."

"They don't kill themselves here because they are miserable people. They kill themselves because they're moved away from their friends and family.

"They kill themselves because they're in the middle of nowhere - no support, no help. This is happening in one of the richest councils in the whole of the country."

The city council says the block is of "relatively good quality". However, it accepts that the quality of accommodation is "only one factor affecting residents’ wellbeing".

"Honestly, the accommodation itself is fine," said Mr Jeffery, who was wearing an Albion shirt while speaking to The Argus.

"The problem is, if you need help you need to go to Brighton, whether that's for mental health or drugs.

"What use is it to be put 15 miles away and have no connection to the place.

"I personally didn't even know where I was when I got here, I know Brighton like the back of my hand.

"It is an embarrassment for Brighton council that, as a city, we can't house our homeless people.

"Many people here have depression and then to stick us in some s***hole miles away from home is just cruel.

"We are the forgotten lot."

Today, The Argus asks how many more bodies must be discovered before a permanent solution is found.

Brighton and Hove City Council responds

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: "The recently deceased resident was found by Kendal Court staff on the morning of the 23 July. He was last seen by accommodation staff on 21 July.

"The deceased was being supported by the council’s adult social care team. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

"Each instance of homelessness is a tragedy for the individuals involved. We work extremely hard to help people avoid this situation, and to support them when they do.

“We try to accommodate people within Brighton & Hove where we can, and are working to develop more options within the city. However the scale of demand for accommodation is in excess of what we can provide within the city at the current time.

“We have a dedicated welfare officer team supporting all homeless households in our emergency and short term accommodation both within and outside of the city.

“We are also exploring a travel support scheme for residents out of city to connect with community and services."

'People are dumped'

Homeless campaigner Jim Deans says the accommodation is the equivalent of a "ghetto" where people are "dumped and abandoned".

Mr Deans, who runs Sussex Homeless Support, said: "You get dumped there, there's no support.

"Surely you should get a travel warrant to get back into the city, but the council refused point-blank unless it is an official appointment.

Talking about deaths at the court, Mr Deans said: "We're into the 20s now, the last I heard was that it was 28 in the last four years.

"I've heard the people say 'well at least it's better than nothing'.

"Sometimes nothing is better than something, regardless of the fact you have a roof over your head."

Mr Deans added that bus passes could go a long way to help people feel less cut-off from the city.