Last updated: 16 May 2025

About this page

Ensuring people leaving prison have access to suitable housing is essential both for their own wellbeing and to prevent re-offending. However, this has long been a challenge with people at all stages of the criminal justice system facing significant barriers to maintaining and securing stable housing. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to addressing this with each area facing a unique set of circumstances.

This page contains:

  • Information on providing support in custody and on release from prison.
    • Top good practice tips
    • On entering prison
    • Prior to release
    • On and after release
  • Useful resources for practitioners and commissioners including case study examples of good practice
    • System-wide protocols and partnerships
    • Commissioning and managing access to accommodation
    • CLINKS information and reports
    • Evidence-based interventions

Providing support in custody and on release from prison

The information below has been gathered from workshops and discussions with those working in the sector. The full learning from those sessions including identified challenges, potential solutions and examples of good practice can be seen on this infographic.

Infographic of information from workshops on preventing homelessness on release from prison

Top good practice tips

  • Have an area-wide protocol so that there are clear lines of responsibility and each agency has a clear understanding of assessment and referral pathways.
  • Hold pre-release panel meetings both inside prisons and externally. External meetings should gather a wide range of agencies and should consider both releases within the local area and national releases of people who may return.
  • Assess all people thoroughly for homelessness as early as possible within their prison journey. Undertake prevention of homelessness work wherever possible.
  • Start applying for ID, bank accounts and benefits as soon as possible to ensure people are ready for release.
  • Submit DTRs as soon as possible and complete Housing applications in prison.
  • Offer support on release. Ideally have dedicated staff roles and/or Departure Lounges for easy access to agencies.

On entering prison

Timely support when people enter prison can prevent loss of a tenancy. Not everyone entering prison recognises that their housing may be at risk. As such reception staff and initial assessments do not always identify that someone is at risk of homelessness. Yet everyone entering prison has by definition left their home and as such it can be useful to assume that all prisoners are at risk of homelessness until proven otherwise.

  • Prison reception staff, Prison Offender Managers (POMs) and Prison Service Officers (PSOs) should make detailed enquiries when undertaking initial assessments. It may be useful to assume all prisoners are at risk of homelessness until enquiries show otherwise. This can ensure that appropriate enquiries are made in every case.
  • Reception staff, POMs and PSOs should also enquire about ID and bank accounts on admission. This allows sufficient time to ensure this are in place.
  • Where someone is on a short sentence, a Duty to Refer may need to be submitted immediately. Anyone can make a Duty to Refer and this should not be seen as the responsibility of one particular team or role.

Prior to release

Custody can be an opportunity to prepare people for life on release. It is essential that opportunities to engage are not missed to engage.

  • Most prisons have Employment Leads or Hubs that can provide invaluable preparation for employment on release. Those on longer sentences may need longer to prepare for life after custody and engaging in life skills programmes can be helpful.
  • It can be helpful to share information and knowledge about housing rights and the realities of the housing market. Good examples include keeping folders of information about housing on the wings, training peer mentors to share housing knowledge and running learning sessions about housing. This may include myth busting to help develop realistic expectations.
  • Most prisons aim for a 12 week pre-release preparation period during which time a Duty To Refer can be made. However a Duty to Refer should not be delayed. In some cases Local Authorities will accept referrals early. This can ensure that referrals are not delayed by missed appointments or unforeseen circumstances that may prevent meetings from taking place.
  • Housing applications should take place prior to release. This ensures that plans can be put in place that meet the individual's needs. This works best when there is a Housing Options worker located within the prison, ideally able to move independently through the prison. In every case, efforts should be made to complete assessments one-to-one where possible to avoid unnecessary delays caused by challenges accessing online meetings.
  • Having additional staff capacity by locating housing, support workers or DWP workers enables essential work to be undertaken in advance, supports prison staff by adding capacity and builds trusting relationships that continue after release.
  • Pre-release panels within prison and externally are essential for ensuring that no one falls through the gaps. Identifying every person due to be released enables multi-disciplinary teams to put plans in place in advance. External panels should also discuss releases from other areas who are likely to return.

On and after release

People being released are often expected to attend multiple appointments on the day of release. This can be overwhelming and may lead to non-engagement. This is compounded if people are being released into homelessness.

  • Offering support immediately on release capitalises on high levels of motivation and can prevent people become overwhelmed. In some cases this is done by commissioned through/at the gate support with staff meeting releases at the gate.
  • An alternative model of Departure and Arrivals Lounges offers immediate support and typically bring multiple agencies together to facilitate access. This has proved highly successful.
    • In Doncaster, Nacro operate a 'Departure Lounge' for people on release to access the support they need including contacting and meeting relevant agencies. This support has proved crucial in ensuring people are connected to support at a key moment.
    • Yorkshire and Humberside operated an Arrivals Lounge based in probation for SDS40 releases which connected people with a range of services.
The Departure Lounge, Doncaster Arrivals Lounge, Yorkshire and Humberside
  • Delivering substance use support on release is essential especially for those who require a script. This can otherwise interrupt the person's ability to engage with other services. Similarly many people need access to healthcare and providing access to a dedicated GP who can see people on release can address any immediate medical needs.
  • It can be challenging when people have to repeat their histories. Information sharing agreements between agencies can be helpful. Some areas are trialling the use of Resettlement Passports that contain relevant information and can be shared between agencies.
  • Dedicated staff focused on supporting people on release can be key. In some areas RSI funding has been used to deliver this service. In West Berkshire an RSI funded Prevention Officer has responsibility for preventing homelessness on discharge from prison and hospital. The officer's key role is to work with people prior and on release to prevent and relieve homelessness. In other areas there is a dedicated Recalls Officer who focuses specifically on supporting people on short recalls.
West Berkshire Prevention Officer

Useful resources for practitioners and commissioners

System-wide protocols and partnerships

People entering the criminal justice system come into contact with numerous different agencies from the courts, prison and probation service, commissioned services, local authority housing teams and voluntary sector agencies. This can lead to people falling through the gaps but also presents an opportunity for multiple agencies to deliver support.

Below are examples we have found of locally developed protocols as well as guidance on how to create them.

Commissioning and managing access to accommodation

Clinks

Clinks is the national infrastructure organisation supporting the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. In addition to hosting events and publishing a range of resources, Clinks convenes the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group Special Interest Group (known as RR3 SIG) on Accommodation.

The RR3 SIG has produced three reports which will be useful for anyone looking to better understand the challenges faced in preventing homelessness and key recommendations for addressing them. Report 1 focuses on accessing accommodation through resettlement planning, homelessness legislation or government provision; Report 2 focuses on accessing the private rented sector; Report 3 focuses on housing related support.

Evidence-based interventions

The Centre for Homelessness Impact produced an evidence paper What Works Evidence Notes Prison Discharge and Homelessness, investigating what works in supporting people being discharged from prison. This is a useful guide to interventions that have shown promise in supporting people leaving prison. They highlight Critical Time Intervention and re-entry programmes as showing successful outcomes as well as promising practices including Landlord incentives, digital access programme and area wide protocols including the Scottish SHORE standards (see below).

Shelter offers free E-Learning, funded by MHCLG, on Housing Rights for Ex-Offenders, accessible here.