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Cardiff Council

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Homeless after release from prison

​ If you are at risk of being homeless on release from prison, you should contact us as soon as possible so that we can assess your situation and see how we can help you.

 
While you are in prison, your Resettlement Officer will help you to consider your housing options and if you are going to be released to no fixed address they will help you submit an application to the Housing Options Service  

When we receive this application we will work with you and your resettlement officer to create a personal housing plan.

We will work with you to create a personalised housing plan, and help you to find accommodation.

In some cases, we may have a duty to give you temporary accommodation. We will take into account if you have spent time in prison when reviewing your eligibility, even if it has been some time since you were released.

You don’t have to have a priority need to access our service. We will still support you with your housing needs. 

This could mean that while we do not have a legal duty to offer you Temporary Accommodation we will still offer access to emergency accommodation through our Gateway while working with you to secure suitable long term accommodation.

However, you may fall into a priority need group because you are considered vulnerable as a result of spending time in prison or on remand.


When considering your homelessness application, we will look at:

  • The length of time you have spent in prison.
  • If any support is being provided to you either by probation services, youth offending team, or drug and alcohol team.
  • Evidence provided by any third party (including any housing needs assessment) about your homelessness vulnerability.
  • The amount of time since your release from prison and how successful you have been in finding and keeping accommodation.
  • Any support networks you have such as family, friends or a probation officer.
  • Evidence of any other vulnerability such as mental health problems, drug or alcohol misuse, or a history of having been in care.
  • Any other factors that might have an impact on your ability to find a home independently.
When you apply to us as homeless, our Housing Options Service will check to see if you have a local connection to Cardiff. 

You can have a local connection, for example by living, working, or having family (usually a parent, brother or sister) in the area. 

Time spent in prison does not give you a local connection with the area where the prison is located.


If you do not have a connection to Cardiff you will normally be referred to the location that you have a connection with. However, if you have no local connection with any areas or if you are fleeing domestic violence, you can apply to any council in any area.

There may be restrictions placed on where you can live. High risk prisoners managed by a multi-agency public protection arrangement (MAPPA) may be required to live in certain areas.
Our aim is to help you find a place to live on release. The Private rented Sector is the quickest avenue for us to do this and offers you the greatest choice in your future accommodation.

To help you we will:
  • Complete an affordability assessment with you so that you know how much rent you can afford and make sure your income is maximised
  • We will help you to arrange viewings for properties and provide support to attend these viewings if needed
  • We will inspect any prospective properties before you move in and make sure that it is suitable for you
  • Arrange specialist appointments in your local Hub to help you in searching for privately rented accommodation.
  • We will offer you financial assistance through one of our Bond and Rent in Advance schemes
  • You make also qualify for support in furnishing your new property

If you require any ongoing support once you have moved into the accommodation we will refer you to specialist tenant support worker.

You will be assigned a case worker who will be able to advise you further.
If it is a condition of your release to live in approved premises, your probation officer or case manager will make the referral.

Only a minority of released prisoners are required to live in approved premises upon release.

If you are not required to do so, it is your responsibility to get advice about where you will live upon release.

Your probation officer or case manager might be able to give you some advice about your housing options and can make referrals on your behalf to appropriate housing providers, but they do not have a legal duty to house you.
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