Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact on homelessness for prison leavers of (a) the end of the temporary accommodation scheme and (b) other housing support schemes.

We recognise that accommodation is a key priority as it is often the first step in an individual’s resettlement journey. We continue to work with councils and charities to secure suitable accommodation, while investigating long-term solutions to prevent homelessness and help offenders turn their backs on crime. Accommodation outcomes for 2020/21 are due to be published as part of the Community Performance series due to be released in July.

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 next financial year 2021-22, with a view to scaling up and rolling out nationally.

HMPPS will work in conjunction with MHCLG’s announced funding to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness into private rental tenancies. Funded schemes to support prison leavers will be developed to assist in securing settled accommodation by the end of the 12 weeks temporary accommodation provided by HMPPS.