New Funding To Support Prison Leavers And Ex-Offenders At Risk Of Homelessness
Posted on 7 December 2021
We are pleased to announce that our housing support service in East Sussex, the Rapid Rehousing Pathway Project, has received additional funding to support those at risk of homelessness when they leave prison.
The service will support prison leavers and ex-offenders who have left prison within the last 12 months, to access and sustain settled housing.
Support will be personalised and tailored, based on a comprehensive assessment including a risk assessment and action plan. Each client will receive intensive support for up to six months but timeframes are flexible based on individual need.
Once suitable and affordable accommodation, primarily in the private rented sector, has been secured, support and monitoring will be available to each client at intervals of three, six, nine, and twelve months.
Eligible for this support will be single prison leavers or ex-offenders aged 18 and above. Referrals will be received from Local Authority Housing Options Teams, the co-located Housing Solutions Specialist within Lewes Prison, or the Housing or Criminal Justice Specialist within the Rough Sleeping Initiative.
The aim is to prevent homelessness on release as early as possible. Individually-tailored support will start once the client has been released from prison and the referral has been received and an assessment made. We hope that this support will provide reassurance to prison leavers that help is available on their release.
Support from the Rapid Rehousing Pathway Project will be provided by Tenancy Sustainment Officers (TSOs) who will work closely with the Rough Sleeping Initiative’s multi-disciplinary team. TSOs will help prison leavers find new accommodation or return to their pre-existing accommodation, access the local social housing register, address substance or alcohol misuse issues, access benefits and employment, relocate and resettle, and integrate into their community.
The service will also include an element of outreach work with TSOs outreaching to clients on the streets to ensure they are able to access support as soon as possible.
For more information about the Rapid Rehousing Pathway Project, please click here.
