| answer text |
<p>We know women released from prison face significant barriers to securing suitable
accommodation and that earlier support, whilst they are on remand, to find accommodation
can help.</p><p>Women on remand are supported to meet their immediate resettlement
needs and prepare for release by probation pre-release staff in prisons. We have committed
to supplementing the existing support from probation staff with access to specialist
accommodation, finance and debt support for all women on remand or sentenced in custody.
We aim to have commenced this additional provision by the summer of this year.</p><p>In
2021, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) introduced Housing Specialists
in twenty prisons, including four women’s prisons namely HMP Styal, Bronzefield, Peterborough
and New Hall. The role of these specialists is to support prisons and probation in
their strategic response to reducing homelessness. This includes working in partnership
internally across HMPPS and externally with Local Authorities, Police and Crime Commissioners
and organisations contracted to provide specialist support, to develop or strengthen
accommodation pathways on release from prison. We have committed to increase the number
of Housing Specialists to 48 across England and Wales, including across the women’s
estate.</p>
|
|
