Better Together: Preventing Re-offending and Homelessness report released by Homeless Link

Homeless Link have released the findings of Better Together: Preventing Reoffending and Homelessness, their research project into the complex links between re-offending and homelessness. The project aims to explore the role of the homelessness sector in supporting clients with a history of offending and prevent re-offending, as well as the partnership between this sector and the criminal justice system.

The report is the result of 12 months of research using interviews and focus groups to garner the views and comments of 76 clients currently or recently involved with criminal justice agencies who were receiving support from a homelessness agency. Better Together identifies the principles of effective support from both the client’s perspective and the agency’s perspective to prevent re-offending.

From the client’s perspective approaches that were individualised were effective, as well as those that built up the client’s self esteem. Those interviewed were quick to emphasise that homelessness itself can also lead to offending and accommodation and employment makes a big difference in how likely they were to re-offend.

While agencies recognised the need for a heads on approach in treating offending as a support issue and the need for agencies to work together in support and assessment, suggesting “A clear, flexible assessment process coupled with a better multi-agency comprehensive assessment tool” as a way to improve client assessment.
Better Together repeatedly emphasises the importance of joint commissioning and partnership with other services to give holistic support in a system where many services are seen as isolated.

 A third list of principles focuses on cross-sector working, and stresses the importance of a mutual support ethos, sharing information and having a source of multi-agency support.

 Better Together’s local and national recommendations seek to reduce re-offending and homelessness in a time of financial challenges by shifting to a localised approach with an emphasis on partnerships, addressing the challenges that cause breakdowns in inter-agency partnerships.