Prison Release

Are you homeless after being released from prison?


You can seek assistance from the Housing Options team if you:

  • Are due to be released from prison in the next 56 days

  • Have already been released from prison and have nowhere to go

 

If any agencies are currently supporting you, for example, a prison, a youth offenders institute or a probation service, they should refer you to our service, with your permission, if they think you are homeless or threatened with homelessness. They can do this through the Duty to Refer.    


You may be provided with temporary accommodation if you are considered priority need and you have nowhere else to stay.

We will assess whether we have reason to believe you are priority need, considering the following:

  • Pregnancy

  • Age

  • Mental ilness

  • Learning disability

  • Physical Disability

  • Prison history

  • Armed forces involvement

  • Social Services involvement


Your Housing Options Officer will make an assessment to consider whether you should be regarded as priority need during the Full Housing Assessment.


When assessing whether you would be considered vulnerable after leaving custody, we will consider:

  • The length of time spent incarcerated

  • Whether any support is being provided by a criminal justice agency, and any other agencies

  • Whether you are receiving any support from family and friends

  • How long it has been since you were released, and how successful you have been in accessing accommodation since release

  • Any further vulnerabilities, including mental health problems, drug and alcohol misuse and addiction, and any history of care


We will work with you to try to prevent and relieve your homelessness. Our advice and assistance may include:

  • Help with applying for Universal Credit and other benefits

  • Advice about joining the housing register

  • Help to apply to supported accommodation, including Mayday Trust

  • Assistance with looking for private rented properties

  • Referring to support agencies, for example, agencies specializing in mental health & drug and alcohol misuse, and financial support


After we have worked with you under the relief duty for 56 days, we will make a decision about whether we owe you a main duty. You will be owed the main duty if you are:

  1. Priority Need

  2. Not intentionally homeless

We will have to consider whether you have made yourself intentionally homeless if you lost your accommodation due to a period in custody.


If you think you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, please contact us as soon as possible.

   01327 871100

   homechoice.ddc@daventrydc.gov.uk

   Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, NN11 4FP

   Mon-Thurs 9-5, Fri 9-4:30 

        

Are you a professional subject to the Duty to Refer?

If you are a professional working with a service user you consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, you are able to refer them to us through the Duty to Refer.