Prison leavers are left out in the cold

Help with housing remains the single biggest area of need amongst our clients.  But it is becoming ever more difficult to source given the huge pressures on affordable housing. The services on which we previously relied to provide vital housing for homeless prison leavers are disappearing and our options are getting ever more limited.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, we are facing the biggest challenges in London.  However, it is an issue which affecting our work in every region. 

Dramatic changes to our welfare system have dismantled services on which we previously relied to help clients. Many hostels and supported housing projects which housed the most vulnerable and needy prison leavers have closed.  Changes to the Local Housing Allowance rate have meant that housing people in areas where there is high demand have become practically impossible.  Council housing is practically a closed door to most of our clients – only the very ill and vulnerable can hope to qualify.

The situation is particularly distressing for prison leavers with mental health problems, addictions or recovering from trauma.   In reality, we rely on privately rented multi-occupancy accommodation (i.e. house shares) to house homeless prison leavers.  We are reliant on building up good relations with landlords and many of them are happy to accept our clients.  However, they often take a low priority over students and working people who will often seem more attractive potential tenants in the eyes of many private landlords.

Such options are not suitable for everyone.  For example, a vulnerable homeless woman who has left prison and is recovering from the effects of domestic abuse requires a place where she feels safe and comfortable.  A room in a multi-occupancy house where she is sharing facilities with men is not such a place. But it is sometimes the only option available to her. The man in his 40s who had a family and 3 bedroom house before his sentence will be sharing kitchen and bathrooms with strangers on his release - if he is lucky.  Sometimes he will be reliant on sofa surfing and staying with friends. All of these factors have a negative impact on someone's ability to successfully resettle and put the past behind them.

Despite facing an uphill struggle, our caseworkers have this year so far found permanent housing for nearly 700 clients.  This is against a background of rapidly diminishing supply and increased competition from others searching for somewhere to live.  We believe this is principally because many of them are themselves ex-offenders who left prison with nowhere to go.  They know what it is like and will therefore go that extra mile to make sure that no-one faces the prospect of sleeping on the streets.