- Policy & Research
- Key issues
- Housing & homelessness
Housing & homelessness
Tackling rough sleeping…is about dealing with the wider causes of homelessness, from family breakdown and mental illness to drug addiction and alcoholism. This is a complex, multi-faceted problem” – David Cameron, foreword to The Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide (2011)
- 39% of rough sleepers have mental health problems. (1)
- 52% have of rough sleepers have alcohol support needs, and 32% have drug support needs. (2)
- 30% of people released from prison will have nowhere to live. (3)
- Stable accommodation can reduce reoffending by over 20%. (4)
A lack of secure housing is a problem facing many people in the revolving doors group. People may become homeless after a relationship breaks down or after conflict with family. It is a problem that can become worse on release from prison, especially after a short prison sentence.
The government has recently committed to tackling rough sleeping, with a cross-governmental strategy and the founding of a ministerial working group on homelessness. However, more work needs to be done to tackle other forms of homelessness and the housing problems that arise for prisoners on release.
Revolving Doors calls for:
- Improved links between prison and community housing services, including pre-release needs assessments.
- Amendment of housing benefit rules, to prevent prisoners detained for more than 13 weeks from losing their accommodation.
- Appropriate accommodation available on leaving prison-based drug treatment, so that released prisoners who have made progress in addressing their drug problems avoid hostels where other residents are at an earlier stage of recovery.
Relevant Revolving Doors Publications
(1) The Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide (Department of Communities and Local Government, 2011)
(2) Ibid.
(3) Niven, S. and Stewart, D. (2005) Resettlement outcomes on release from prison, Home Office Findings 248, London: Home Office
(4) Social Exclusion Unit (2002) Reducing reoffending by ex-prisoners, London: Social Exclusion Unit
