Preventing homelessness on release from prison

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On 12th July the new Labour government announced a policy on prison release, SDS40, preparing for certain groups of offenders to be released early from prison after serving 40% of their sentence. This has placed additional focus on the need to ensure people leaving prison are able to access suitable accommodation.

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.

The links and resources below will be helpful for commissioners and service providers who are thinking about local protocols and interventions. They provide a steer to existing learning and guidance on this topic. More case studies and examples will be added over time.

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).

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.

• Worcestershire Criminal Justice Housing and Support Protocol was developed in response to a review of service provision undertaken by an external consultant. This is a wide-ranging protocol covering all part of the criminal justice process and describing in detail the role of each partner agency. You can also read the original analysis by the consultants, Campbell Tickell.
• In Scotland, the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone (SHORE) standards were implemented in 2017. SHORE outlines best practice for coordinating access to services at 4 key time points in the criminal justice journey. Early indications are that the approach has been successful in identifying opportunities for preventing homelessness.
• In 2019 HM Government produced a research report Prison Release Protocols that details research undertaken into developing a successful protocol. The report includes useful suggestions as well as case studies and examples that may be useful in developing a protocol.
• In 2020 HM Inspectorate of Probation published Accommodation and support for adult offenders in the community and on release from prison in England. This detailed document explores opportunities and challenges and includes useful examples of good and poor practice.

Commissioning and managing access to accommodation

• In partnership with the six local authorities that make up the Liverpool City Region, the Combined Authority have commissioned an Accommodation for Ex Offenders (AFEO) programme. A key success has been embedding experienced Housing Options staff within criminal justice settings, enabling assessments to be completed in advance of release and improved communication. This, together with the flexible and responsive support service (delivered by Crisis), has been successful in identifying correct pathways and accessing the private rented sector.
• Greater Manchester designed a CAS3 model that would sit within its existing model of homelessness prevention rather than alongside it. The authority acts as grant holder, commissioning services across each of its 10 regions and overseeing the work from a central team. Detailed information on their approach including a recorded webinar can be found in a case study published by Clinks Influencing local authorities on accommodation: the Greater Manchester Homelessness Prevention Strategy.