Project helps prison leavers in Norfolk stay away from crime this Christmas

A Norwich-based project is helping prison leavers – mainly vulnerable female ex- offenders - stay off the streets and away from crime this Christmas through providing them with accommodation and support.

A support scheme run by charity St Giles Trust acts as a bridge between prison and the community for prisoners approaching release who are of no fixed abode, so that they are not released homeless into the community.

The link between homelessness and offending is strong.  Around two-thirds of prisoners are homeless upon entry to prison and a further third lose their homes during their sentence. Ex-prisoners who have nowhere to live on release are far more likely to re-offend.  Providing a stable home is vital to prevent prison leavers returning to custody.

The project started in October 2009, after St Giles was approached by Norwich District Council’s Supporting People unit to act as the prison-based arm of the Norfolk Offender Accommodation Forum (NOAF).  It has funding to run until March 2011.

Offenders are referred to St Giles Trust from HMP Norwich, HMP Peterborough women’s prison and other agencies, and are provided through the gates support into accommodation.

The team act as mentors to their clients, offering support around issues such as benefits, medical support, and finding employment.  They typically visit the client in prison before their release, to engage with them and assess their needs. Clients are then met at the gates by workers, often ex-offenders themselves, who by virtue of personal experience are able to gain clients’ trust and address their needs. They then support the client into accommodation and help in other areas of difficulty, be it drugs, family, debt or benefits.

The project has so far received a total of 45 referrals, the majority from Peterborough women’s prison, as well as HMP Norwich and other support agencies. The majority of clients were returned to the Norwich area on leaving prison, though others were returned to areas including Kings Lynn, Downham, Dereham, Cromer and Yarmouth.

Many of the female clients were previously sex workers with a history of drug dependency, leading chaotic lives, trapped in a cycle of poverty and disadvantage. In a large number of cases, clients were known to most of the local housing agencies, and had previously been evicted from their properties.

“Our aim is to reduce the re-offending rate by going into prisons and engaging with clients before they are released,” says Denise Wells, project worker at St Giles Trust. “We can then meet them at the gates and provide a link between prison and the community, so that they don’t just come out of prison and then have to start looking for accommodation.
“Ours is a very difficult client group to house. We deal predominantly with women ex-offenders. Many work in the sex industry, and a lot have already been housed in Norwich but lost their accommodation during their sentence. They are all drug-dependent, and many lead very chaotic lives. They will typically have a history of serving a succession of short sentences, and become trapped in a cycle of custody and re-offending. Some have mental health issues, and need support in accessing medical help.
“It’s very early days, in terms of assessing outcomes and results. The work we do is difficult and very challenging, but the results so far demonstrate the positive impact we’re having.”

Results so far include:

•    10 clients being referred on to other specialist agencies
•    7 clients being met at the prison gates on their release
•    2 clients receiving support to avoid falling into rent arrears
•    2 clients supported in providing storage for their property while in prison
•    2 clients were given information on finding accommodation in other areas
•    One client was accompanied to an interview with the Homeless Persons Unit, and was supported through a subsequent appeal
•    One client received mentoring support around their drug use, and was able to avoid prison recall
•    One client received mentoring support to secure stable accommodation, prompting the court to favour an electronic tagging condition over custody
•    3 clients received support in completing forms for hostel or council accommodation
•    One client, a sex worker, was supported through co-ordinated work with various specialist agencies to access social services along with housing
•    The partner of one client received support and advice, and a further agency referral while the client was in prison
•    Four clients currently on remand are receiving support to secure their accommodation pending sentencing