answer text |
<p>We are investing more than £20m in supporting prison leavers at risk of homelessness
into temporary accommodation. Individuals released from prison will be provided up
to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation and will be supported into long-term settled
accommodation before the end of that 12-week period. Initially launching in five national
probation regions, the service will support around 3,000 offenders in its first year
and will be commencing this Summer. It will be in operation during the financial year
2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally.</p><p>The service will
take account of the needs of women, including those with complex needs and accommodation
provision will be dedicated to single gender usage as required. Community Probation
Practitioners, working together with local partners, will be responsible for ensuring
that vulnerable female prison leavers receive appropriate support and are provided
with housing beyond the 12 weeks’ emergency accommodation.</p><p>In 2020, Hestia Battersea
was changed from a male to female Approved Premises to give better geographic spread
of AP provision for women, becoming the first AP for women in London since 2008.</p><p>In
addition, Eden House, the first new AP in over thirty years, will open in this month
supporting female offenders.</p><p>HMPPS will work in conjunction with MHCLG’s announced
funding to support both male and female prison leavers at risk of homelessness into
private rental tenancies. Funded schemes to support women will be developed to recognise
their specific needs and will be part of plans to secure settled accommodation by
the end of the 12 weeks’ temporary accommodation provided by HMPPS.</p>
|
|