Shelter Scotland's Prisons Advice Project helps reduce homelessness
29 October 2010
Over the past year Shelter Scotland’s Prisons Advice Project has prevented homelessness or helped find accommodation for 89% of clients who came to the charity because they faced losing their home. Housing problems and homelessness are known to be key contributors to prisoners reoffending.
A total of 58% of the project’s 532 clients in the past year came to the housing charity because they were facing homelessness, while 42% needed help with other housing related matters such as housing benefit and the need for tenancy support. These latest figures are revealed as the charity holds a conference today (Friday) on housing services for prisoners.
Shelter Scotland prisons project works in prisons in Inverness, Aberdeen and Perth, with the aim of reducing homelessness amongst the prisoner and ex-prisoner population.
Martin Wilkie-McFarlane, Manager of the Shelter Scotland’s Prisons Advice Project, said:
“This project provides high quality, comprehensive housing advice and advocacy on a range of housing issues. We support prisoners to maintain their accommodation through their prison sentence, responsibly give up their accommodation where appropriate and to access housing and support on release from prison.
“Research has shown that problems with housing are one of the main reasons ex-prisoners reoffend (2). Our work plays a vital role in helping prevent prisoners becoming homeless by offering them impartial advice on their rights and responsibilities relating to housing.”
Shelter Scotland is hosting a conference on October 29, 2010 in Dundee to explore the potential for development of housing services for prisoners. Agencies attending include staff from Scottish Prison Services, representatives from a number of local authorities and support agencies and staff from the Scottish Government.
For more information on Shelter Scotland’s Prisons Advice Project go to: http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/about_us/how_we_make_a_difference/housing_aid_and_advice/specialist_services_in_scotland/prison_advice_project
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Notes to Editors:
- Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity. Shelter Scotland believes that everyone should have a home. We help people find and keep a home. We campaign for decent housing for all.
- Reducing re-offending by ex-offenders, Cabinet office report: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/social_exclusion_task_force/assets/publications_1997_to_2006/reducing_summary.pdf
- Written up case studies are available on request.
- Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.
