Why not engage responsibly with the private rented sector, not a bunch of policy wonks? How many of your people on license have Crisis helped into sustainable private rented sector tenancies which have lasted the duration of the term? Charities such as Crisis and Shelter have a place in effecting research and a framework for good policy and practise but generally, landlords will not engage directly and PRS schemes they have funded have not evidenced sustained success.
How can you help empower ex offenders to manage sustainable tenancies? Ex offenders need to understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants and tell their story to landlords in a way that empowers their desistance, not be held back by entering into badly managed poor tenancies in which landlords are lied to, not explained EXACTLY what the ex offender's background is and in which the tenancy fails and you perpetuate the cycle of homelessness. Tell you what, we'll send along two of our most powerful trainers and tenant advocates for a free day of training to probation officers and those on licences in the community.
We wholeheartedly support Crisis and Shelter's work in lobbying for changes in policy and addressing the need for research in this sector but they are not equipped to deal professionally with the private sector, landlords have been burnt by too many Private Rented Schemes designed by charities who do not understand that the bottom line for every landlord has to be sustainability and to be able to pay his mortgage and related outgoings on a rented property. Too many tenancies have been missold by the Social Lettings Agency model purveyed by Local Authorities. Till you start to engage with the private rented sector, you don't have a chance of helping people on probation achieving successful, supported tenancies with buy in from all the stakeholders engaged. Let's talk, Ms Munro.
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| Heather Munro, London Probation Trust |
Lovely press release, time for action.
March 15 2012
'Homelessness' contributory factor to offending
Over a quarter of London offenders serving their sentence in the community have housing as a ‘criminogenic need’* - according to data from the UK’s largest probation trust.
London Probation Trust (LPT) has over 40,000** offenders on its books at any one time and is the largest service of its kind in Europe.
LPT Chief Executive Heather Munro said: "Homelessness is an issue probation officers will come across on a daily basis when dealing with the offenders under their supervision.
"Most people working in probation would probably say the lack of stable accommodation, a place to call ‘home’, is one of the biggest contributing factors when it comes to offending and reoffending. It’s well known that if you are sleeping rough or moving from place to place that you are more likely to end up reoffending.
"Our data shows that 27*** per cent of the offenders on our books have problems with their accommodation. Usually this will be just one of several issues we have to help offenders deal with as part of addressing their criminal behaviour. Offenders tend to have complex backgrounds with multiple concerns – lack of skills, lack of employment, low finances, problems with substance abuse etc; and they are often compounded by issues with housing."
Heather pinpoints the direct link between homelessness and offending as the most likely reason her staff voted Crisis as their 2012 Charity of the Year.
She said: "I’m very pleased to be supporting Crisis – and not at all surprised that it came out top in our staff poll.
"We’re already working with them in our approved premises, where they provide free employment and skills advice to offenders as well as help some of them to secure more permanent accommodation.
"Crisis is a great charity and we will be exploring ways for staff to donate their time as volunteers as well as raise funds for this worthwhile cause."
ENDS
*There are several criminogenic needs which are identified in the Offender Assessment System (OASys) tool. The guidance states:
"There is clear evidence that lack of permanent decent accommodation is related to re-offending. Those of no fixed abode or who are living in hostels, especially hostels with other offenders, are more likely to offend. Those who have many changes of address are more likely to re-offend. Accommodation can also be seen as a proxy measure for social exclusion. Not having a postal address can have serious and widespread consequences. Living in a high crime area is an environmental factor that can affect the rate of re-offending. A sudden change of accommodation status can lead to a significant change in the likelihood of reconviction very quickly, so this section is one of the most ‘dynamic’ area is OASys. Carlisle (1996), when discussing the housing needs of ex-prisoners, reviewed research that clearly showed a link between unsuitable accommodation and the rate of reconviction. (OASys Manual, 2002)
**This figure includes offenders who are currently on licence in the community as well as those under LPT’s supervision in prison.
***This figure only applies to those offenders currently on licence or serving their sentence in the community and for whom an OASys assessment is available. The OASys data is from the assessments over the last 12 months.
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