1. Improving Housing Outcomes for Offenders in the North East Key findings from research carried out for NOMS in 2011 by Sheila Spencer & Richard Corkhill Independent consultants Mike Clark Association of North East Councils July 2014

2. Where to find the report and reference material Improving Housing Outcomes for Offenders in the North East: http://www.vonne.org.uk/policy/policy_article.php ?offset=2&id=1754

3. Our task To explore the scale of housing problems/ need amongst offenders in the NE To explore the link between re-offending and housing need To identify ways of reducing re-offending by developing better housing outcomes and resolving offender housing problems more quickly To provide good practice information for use in the NE

4. Offender housing demand: the figures (2009-2010) 492 (23%) were reported to be No Fixed Abode (NFA) on reception Estimated 814 people (14% of all releases) had no “settled” housing on release from NE prisons Little difference between long and short term prisoners In practice, “settled” accommodation included hostels, Bed & Breakfast, and types of supported housing, and other outcomes not intended to be included

5. ….demand : More figures 2381 (12.7%) Probation clients reported as NFA More male offenders recorded as NFA or with significant housing need M: 12.7% / F: 9.9% Males make up 86% Probation clients Crossover of criminogenic factors relating to housing need: suitability: 26% significant problems with housing permanence: 25% significant problems Just under 50% with some or significant problems before prison

6. Supply: Specialist supported housing & floating support 24 specialist services, 1.67% of total compared to 10.46% across England Regional SP spend around £3m / 3.4% of total spend 180 units of offender-specific accommodation in NE No women-only schemes, 6 beds in 1 scheme for young offenders 197 units + 380 hours floating support – incl. 15 units for offenders with MH problems & 22 for young offenders More offenders access non-specialist services (single homeless / substance misuse / young people) Approved premises: 6 schemes with 96 beds, no beds or schemes for women in the NE

7. Use of supported housing 765 offenders (primary or secondary group) entered supported housing, 510 entered floating support Of those entering supported housing: 136 / 18% recorded as coming from prison 147 / 19% from rough sleeping 124 / 16% from other supported housing 85% males / 15% females of offenders using supported housing 30% also had drug problems, 28% alcohol problems

8. Move-on from supported housing Slightly more people with offending as primary client group moved on into PRS than social housing (27% : 26.5%) 24 people went back to prison 20 of the 24 had been homeless prior to entering supported housing

9. Re-offending & links with housing need NE: 23% NFA on reception 94% of prisoners have previous convictions 68% had been convicted or cautioned for another offence within 12 months before current sentence National: 15% NFA on reception Around 19% with previous custodial sentence were homeless, compared with 6% of those who had not been in prison before 79% of people homeless prior to custody reconvicted within 1 year, compared to 47% of those who had accommodation (average reported by MoJ National MoJ Compendium)

10. Re-offending & links with housing need If NE figure of 23% was reduced to national average of 15%, re-offending rate would be reduced by 134 people Strong evidence of revolving prison gates from both offenders and professionals

11. Headlines from other research Resolving housing and support for offenders presents a significant challenge Growing awareness of value of housing / CJ links Housing one of top 5 concerns for young people in custody Many obstacles built in to applying for social housing – blanket approaches rather than bans Sustaining housing can be greater issue than getting access to settled accommodation Key strategic multi-agency documents not always implemented by agencies in the way intended Offending behaviour not tackled by all housing support agencies, not all CJ agencies tackle housing need, training and policies needed on both sides Committed and persistent individual staff make a significant impact on helping to address their problems Enhanced Housing Options – some good results in reducing homelessness and rent arrears

12. Cost benefit analysis St Giles Through-the-gate scheme - 40% less likely to re-offend (£80,825 saving per reconviction) Most cost-effective intervention: residential rehabilitation - 43% less likely to re-offend (£203,000 saving post- release lifetime) £1 spent on offender SP services in NE = £1.74 saving, net £2m pa Re-unite service for women: £93,646 per service user over 10 years £20,407 saving per offender pa for young offender effective resettlement

13. Minding the gaps: the priorities Through-the-gate services Supported housing for: people with higher needs or personality disorders, women, young people, arson offenders, sex offenders, couples Access directly from prison / emergency Specialist floating support Smaller schemes, Housing First approaches Access to housing (for single people) Rent deposit schemes

14. Messages from Strategic Change Event 1.Early intervention needed in prisons and outside 2.Prevent loss of accommodation in prison and outside, ensure Housing Benefit is paid, provide tenancy support 3.Transparency, openness, honesty, information sharing, and an integrated housing approach 4.Access to bond schemes / funding / direct payments 5.Peer support / advice / mentoring in all prisons and outside 6.Increase access to emergency accommodation and make sure it meets needs 7.Ensure no automatic decisions, responsive policies in homelessness and allocations decisions 8.Improve engagement with prisoners, encourage openness and telling the full story 9.Develop a single point of contact / champions in all orgs 10.Recognise progress made by ex-offenders, provide incentives to sustain their accommodation, and improve access to settled housing

15. Recommendations – strategic 1.Strategic co-ordination of efforts to achieve better housing outcomes for offenders 2.System for a dialogue with local authorities and their partners over offers of new resources, and seeking ways to meet gaps 3.Develop a minimum data collection standard, region-wide definition of settled and suitable accommodation, report on housing for serious incident cases for young offenders 4.Fund to protect tenancies of short term prisoners for 6-12 month sentences

16. Recommendations – operational 5.Prisons and housing options services work together to support new service – rota or other scheme for surgery in each prison, and quarterly meetings 6.Standard minimum good practices for housing options services 7.Single point of contact / champions in all agencies 8.Impact analysis of cuts on re-offending rates 9.Housing perspective represented on all IOMs / Reducing Re-offending Groups 10.Action to minimise barriers to access to social housing, and abandoned property protocol 11.Partnerships with more private landlords

17. Recommendations – operational 12.Involve service user groups in work of all prisons / Probation Trusts 13.Employ service users where possible 14.Improve the quality of support work and reduce homelessness from sector 15.More Through the Gate and mentoring schemes 16.Programme of training for housing and criminal justice staff 17.Dedicated housing workers in all YOTs 18.Internet in all prisons and Probation 19.Streamline referral and application forms for all housing providers

18. Some thoughts from the perspective of 2014 What’s got worse: Cuts; benefit sanctions, Shared Accommodation Rate extended to 35, and Bedroom Tax; loss of some supported accom. and floating support New developments: NSNO; NERHG / NOMS Foundation Through the Gate service; Northumbria Probation progress with most LAs; YHN / Probation agreement & comprehensive training; Durham accommodation for women offenders; new commissioning for housing-related support, more Gateways; TR focus on short term prisoners and Through the Gate, explicit housing terms for bidders Anxieties for future: separation of CRCs and Probation, national commissioning, further reductions in supply of supported accommodation?

19. Where to find the report and annexes Improving Housing Outcomes for Offenders in the North East 2011 http://www.vonne.org.uk/policy/policy_article.php?offset=2&id=1754