- Accommodation for ex-prisoners at risk of homelessness to
reduce reoffending
- 12,000 offenders in England and Wales to be kept off streets
- Part of government drive to stop rough sleeping and cut crime
Up to 12,000 prisoners in England and Wales at risk of being
released homeless will be offered temporary housing for up to 12
weeks as part of the Community Accommodation Service scheme.
Evidence shows that offenders in stable accommodation are 50%
less likely to commit further crimes - reducing the annual £18
billion cost of reoffending on society. Having an address also
allows offenders to find work and access treatment for addictions
and mental health problems, while being closely monitored by the
Probation Service.
The scheme, which was initially launched in July 2021 and piloted
successfully in 5 Probation Service regions, is aimed at prison
leavers who are at risk of slipping back into a life of crime –
ultimately keeping the public safe and reducing reoffending.
Prisons and Probation Minister, , said:
This initiative is geared to prevent thousands of people from
becoming victims each year by reducing the risk of offenders
committing further crimes, saving the taxpayer some of the £18
billion cost of repeat offending.
Getting offenders off the streets and into temporary
accommodation provides the necessary foundation to break the
cycle of crime and keep the public safe.
Offenders housed under the scheme will be supported to find
permanent accommodation and will also be referred to specialist
support to get them off drugs and into employment or training.
The latest figures show ex-prisoners in steady jobs are known to
be up to 9 percentage points less likely to commit further
crimes.
This support will be underpinned by strict supervision from the
Probation Service. Offenders who are in breach of their licence
conditions can be returned to prison.
Janet, who spent 6 weeks in the accommodation, said:
Having a roof over my head after walking out of the prison gates
stopped me from living on the street or going back to my ex and
getting into trouble. While I was there, I achieved some
independence and got a tenancy. I wouldn’t have been able to do
that without the foundations offered to me by this temporary
accommodation.
Today’s news is part of wider government efforts to reduce
re-offending and keep the public safe. Last month marked the
launch of 3 new ‘Intensive Supervision Courts’ designed to force
low-level offenders to tackle their substance issues so they can
get back on the straight and narrow.
Thousands of prisoners have also been helped into employment upon
release following innovative schemes such as Employment Advisory
Boards, which have been rolled out in 92 prisons to improve the
education and training on offer. These measures have helped more
offenders into a steady job with the latest statistics showing
the proportion of prison leavers finding work within 6 months
increasing from 23% to 30% since 2022.
This scheme will complement the government’s landmark Rough
Sleeping Strategy which will help more than 7,000 prison leavers
at risk of homelessness into private rental accommodation. The
scheme is backed by more than £40 million and will help councils
provide rental deposits, landlord incentives and dedicated
support staff.
Ellie King, Senior Manager of Housing Action Management, said:
We are extremely proud to have been involved in this scheme since
its inception and the opportunity to make a positive change to
the lives of prison leavers. Providing a safe space, support
and stability can help towards breaking the cycle of reoffending,
and this increases the chance of successful reintegration back
into the community.
The positive feedback that we constantly receive from our welfare
support visits and interactions with prison leavers demonstrates
that this scheme is making a real difference and providing hope
for the future.
Notes to editors
- The Community Accommodation Scheme began in July 2021 in 5 of
the 12 Probation Service regions: Yorkshire and Humber, Greater
Manchester, the North West, the East of England and Kent, Surrey
and Sussex. Wales was added in July 2022
- The scheme is now being rolled out among the remaining 6
regions: the North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, South
Central, South West, and London
- Between July 2021 and January 2023, statistics show that the
proportion of offenders who had somewhere to stay on the first
night of release from prison was 7.6 percentage points higher in
regions with this service compared with those without
- In 2019/20 (the last pre-COVID performance publication),
there were approximately 12,000 prisoners (16%) released either
rough sleeping or homeless
