Blog: Improving support into safe accommodation for women leaving prison
With less than half of women leaving prison having settled accommodation to return to, many are being set up to fail.
In this blog, Policy & Programme Officer Emily Evison examines a new resource by the Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison Initiative, which aims to help staff who provide support for women on release.
Last week the Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison initiative published a new Women’s Release Practice Briefing to help ensure women are not released homeless from prison.
The lack of safe homes for women leaving prison continues to be a huge issue. Available data on resettlement outcomes for women is inconsistent, and Ministry of Justice data presents a much more positive picture than the reality on the ground. That being said, recent data still shows less than half (47%) of women left prison with settled accommodation in the year to March 2022. And without safe, suitable, and affordable accommodation on release, women are exposed to increased risks of exploitation and abuse; prevented from reuniting with their children; unable to access health services or obtain employment.
This latest publication follows a declaration earlier in the year, calling for urgent action to prevent women being released homeless. The declaration was signed by more than 70 MPs, peers and community organisations. This practice briefing is the result of extensive consultation with the Ministry of Justice, HM Prison and Probation Service, local authorities and housing services. It is designed to support joint work by national and local agencies throughout England and Wales and encourage speedy implementation of solutions.
Without safe, suitable, and affordable accommodation on release, women are exposed to increased risks of exploitation and abuse; prevented from reuniting with their children; unable to access health services or obtain employment.
The resource includes an overview of the current state of play; recent developments in criminal justice and housing; as well as a checklist to assist staff considering women’s housing and support needs. It is intended as a starting point, to capture and share examples of what works well, as well as identifying and addressing gaps in provision.
Its main recommendations to providers include:
- Gender-informed, joined up commissioning and service provision
- Monitoring housing outcomes for all women
- Timely and effective local authority response
- Earlier assessment and support
- Support throughout imprisonment and after release
- Capacity and flexibility for unpredictable/short-term release dates
- Effective strategies to overcome affordable housing shortages (council and private rented)
- Overcoming other common barriers to housing
- Reuniting families
- Effective governance and communication
This briefing is an important and practical resource for change for all service providers involved in the resettlement of women released from prison. By supporting the staff who support women, we hope it will start to turn the tide of women being released without safe accommodation or the opportunity to succeed back in the community they return to.
Emily Evison
Policy & Programme Officer
