A FATHER living in a troubled housing block has expressed his relief after the city council agreed to stop sending homeless people to live there following years of campaigning by this newspaper.

At least ten people died after being placed at Kendal Court in Newhaven from 2016 to 2021, prompting outrage and a threat of legal action against Brighton and Hove City Council by East Sussex County Council.

But now the council will no longer be using it as a temporary or emergency home for its homeless.

Sam Jeffery, who lives in the accommodation block, said the decision to close Kendal Court is “probably the best situation in the long run”.

The 32-year-old said: “With the issues they’ve had here, it’s not got a great reputation. 

“It’s not suitable for a lot of people, especially for me - I lived in Brighton my whole life, so to be moved far away was not ideal.

“I think a lot of people here have mental health issues and have suffered as a result of that.”

The Argus: Sam Jeffery, resident of Kendal Court, is still looking for somewhere else to liveSam Jeffery, resident of Kendal Court, is still looking for somewhere else to live

Sam, however, is yet to find a new place to live and said he is finding it challenging to find somewhere closer to his family and friends in Brighton and Hove.

He said: “It’s unnerving - I have got a housing officer helping me and I think most people have now been moved on, but I’m a bit in limbo because I haven’t got anywhere set up for me.

“Also, being under 35, I only get £420 housing benefit, so to find somewhere in that price range anywhere near Brighton, Hove or the surrounding area is almost impossible.”

The Argus has held investigations into the conditions at Kendal Court for more than four years, highlighting the deaths there back in 2018.

One ex-prisoner said that conditions at the accommodation block were “worse than jail” when The Argus spoke to him in 2020.

Last year, we revealed sex offenders and sexual and domestic abuse survivors had previously been housed in the same block - which is 15 miles from Brighton and Hove.

James MacCleary, Liberal Democrat leader of Lewes District Council, said if the issue had not been reported on the council would have "continued dumping people there”.

Jim Deans, who runs Sussex Homeless Support, had campaigned to help homeless people at Kendal Court and echoed the view of Cllr MacCleary.

He said: “I think it’s absolutely crystal clear they would have carried on.

“The council paid attention to the local and national media reporting.”