Housing advice for people leaving prison
If you were recently released from prison, DISC Cumbria Offender Services offer advice and assistance to anyone who is under the supervision of:
- Cumbria and Lancashire Community Rehabilitation Company
- the National Probation Service
They can help with:
- accommodation
- finance
- benefits and debt
Speak to your Responsible Officer or Offender Manager if you would like to be referred to this service, as they do not accept self-referrals.
Help from the Council
If you apply to the Council for housing assistance because you are homeless, we might not be legally obliged to provide you with accommodation.
Our duty is to prevent or relieve homelessness if threatened within 56 days.
In some circumstances, we might decide you are more vulnerable because you have spent long periods of time in prison or on remand. The fact that you have been in prison does not mean that we have to treat you as being vulnerable and in priority need for accommodation.
The Council’s Housing Options Service may decide that you are intentionally homeless if you were evicted from your previous home because of:
- criminal or antisocial behaviour
- rent arrears resulting from your time in prison
If the Council decides you are intentionally homeless, it will only offer you limited help with finding housing.
If you are in priority need, you may be offered temporary accommodation for a short period of time so as to assist you to find your own accommodation in the private sector.
The Council may take the view that you should have known that your criminal activity could have resulted in you being sent to prison, and that this could lead to the loss of your home.
There may be restrictions placed on where you can live. For example, if an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) or bail conditions mean you can't go to a particular area, you may need to seek help from a different council.
Emergency accommodation if you have no housing
You may need to use emergency accommodation such as a hostel, night shelter or bed and breakfast accommodation if you have nowhere to go following your release. Hostels provide temporary accommodation. Some are direct access, which means you do not need a referral from an agency to use them.
You can search the Homeless England directory to find hostels, emergency and longer-term accommodation and day centres in your area.
You can also use Shelter's directory or call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444 to find services near you.
Help finding housing in the private rented sector
You could try to find housing in the private rented sector. The Council’s Housing Options Service will be able to advise you on how to find out what housing is available locally and how to apply for Universal Credit to help you with your housing costs.
You might be able to get help with a deposit through the council’s private rented sector rent, deposit or bond scheme.
Apply for a housing association home
As a longer term alternative option, you could also consider applying for a Housing Association home.
To apply you can:
- complete the online housing application at www.cumbriachoice.org.uk
- contact Westfield Housing Association for an application form on 01900 602 906
Help finding housing from probation services
Offenders serving sentences of 12 months or more are released on licence and live in the community supervised by the probation service until the end of their sentence.
If you are released on licence, your probation officer can help you find accommodation, as long as you have spent a continuous period of at least twelve months in custody.
Help with money before you are released from prison
All prisoners are given a discharge grant paid for by the prison when they leave. This is money to help with your costs until your benefits are sorted out.
If a prison housing adviser has found you accommodation for your first night, you may be given a higher discharge grant (about an extra £50), which is paid directly to the accommodation provider.
Once you are re-housed you may also be able to get help from the Cumbria County Council’s Ways to Welfare. Contact them on 01228 221 100 for further information.