A better pathway for prison leavers

From today, people who are facing homelessness when leaving prison will receive better support to help ensure they have access to a secure home, rather than staying in Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

Communities Minister, Lesley Griffiths, has today published a National Pathway, which is the first of its kind in the UK, and will improve the way the organisations work with prison-leavers.

The Pathway addresses the requirements of the Welsh Government’s ground breaking Housing (Wales) Act, which came into force in April 2015. The act brought about the most fundamental reform to homelessness legislation in over 30 years and placed a duty on local authorities to work with people who are facing homelessness at a far earlier stage to help find a solution to their housing needs.

The National Pathway was developed after extensive consultation with organisations including Shelter Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). It pays particular attention to the needs of people leaving custody to prevent them from becoming homeless, thereby improving their resettlement into society and reducing their risk of reoffending.

From today, prisoners facing homelessness will begin to receive support 56 days before their release. The Pathway also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of all the agencies and organisations involved in the process, resulting in a more coordinated approach and better support for people leaving custody.

Speaking at the Cwm Taf Youth Offending Service, Communities Minister, Lesley Griffiths, said:

“Wales has been recognised for the forward thinking approach we have taken to preventing homelessness. The National Pathway puts us ahead of the rest of the UK in terms of our efforts to prevent prison-leavers from becoming homeless or ending up in B&Bs.

“The Pathway is already being used by some organisations, with very positive results. I am impressed with the commitment shown by community rehabilitation companies, youth offending teams and local authorities. I am pleased to hear how they have been working together to improve the life chances of people leaving custody and reduce the instances of young people being placed in Bed & Breakfasts.

“There is no doubt a stable accommodation situation is a key factor in helping to break the cycle of offending.”