Probation and Supported Housing:
The Key to Reintegration
Serving time in prison would turn anyone’s life upside down. But when it’s time to leave, and individuals are released on probation to restart their lives, perhaps then the real challenges start.
In this blog, we’ll explore what life on probation really means to individuals and how supported housing stands out as a critical intervention to help reintegration back into society.
The combined work of supported housing and probation can significantly reduce re-offending and provide probationers with an opportunity to move on to a fresh start.
The Uphill Climb after Prison
It’s one thing to hear about something, and it’s another thing to experience it.
For those who haven’t experienced life in prison, it may be hard to imagine. However, for those who have just ended their time in prison: reintegration is a hard-hitting reality.
The basics of starting a stable life, finding housing, employment, and the right kind of social support are suddenly daunting tasks riddled with difficulty.
Additionally, it’s not just a problem for probationers. Problems relating to reintegration are a more extensive social problem. When ex-offenders fall back into offending, it’s a significant burden to the criminal justice system and a considerable cost to society.
The Case for Supported Housing
What is the most effective intervention for cutting down reoffending rates?
The answer is simple … Supported Housing.
When we look at the story, the statistics are clear—the extent to which the sector helps ex-offenders transition back to society is truly astonishing.
Just with housing-related support, re-offending rates can drop by 40%—with a study in South London seeing recidivism rates plummet to 5% from the usual 51%.
But Supported housing has even more success to claim. A decade-old analysis by UK Fry Housing Trust proves the same point —it was found that six months of Housing Support for ex-offenders cost £6,179, compared to a cost of £143,778 for a repeat offence.
To put that into perspective: for every £1 spent on supported housing, taxpayers save £23 from reoffending. But with such immense success in helping probationers reintegrate, it is worth asking why and how it is so effective.
Probation and Supported Housing- A Solid Foundation
In its essence, supported housing does one thing: it helps the vulnerable of our society who otherwise would be left helpless. It provides a solid foundation for ex-offenders to build a new life on.
– Provides a Safe and Stable Environment
With secure and stable housing, ex-offenders have enormous pressures taken away from them—not having to worry about where their next meal will come from or where they’ll be sleeping for the night.
– Offers Services that Address the Root Causes of Offending
From support for mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, social services can help probationers overcome their addictions, manage their mental health, and solve the root causes of what perhaps lead to their offence.
– Provides Access to Job Opportunities and Learning
Finding employment is an inevitable challenge. Supported housing can help with everything from job training to providing employment opportunities and teaching general life skills.
– A Strong Support Network
Individuals could have a safe environment and job opportunities, but a critical missing factor would always be not having a strong support network. Empathy and community’ soft words’ as those are, underpin so much of what’s needed for well-being.
Probation and Supported Housing: A Powerful Duo
Life after prison is challenging for probationers, but their uphill struggle is not faced alone. The combined work of probation and supported housing across the UK is there to provide critical help.
Helping ex-offenders successfully reintegrate back into society gives them a chance to start over and live life in a better way. However, Supported Housing isn’t just a humanitarian intervention. Supported housing is a prudent public policy decision with considerable savings to taxpayers.
The more we can strengthen the powerful duo of Probation and Supported Housing, consequently, the more we help individuals, help communities, and help our society.
Do you work in Supported Housing and need staff? From Night Concierge to Support Workers, We’ve Got You Covered. Click Here to Contact Us Today.
References
Rasmussen University. Life After Prison: 5 Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them.
Shinn, M., et al. (2013). Supportive Housing for Returning Prisoners: Outcomes and Impacts of the Returning Home—Ohio Pilot Project.
Rosenheck, R., et al. (2013). Impact of Supported Housing on Social Relationships of Homeless Veterans. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(6), 849-860.
Julian House. Ex-Offenders Supported Housing.
HM Inspectorate of Probation. (2020, July). Accommodation: A Thematic Review of Accommodation for Probation Service Users.