Homelessness an issue for ex-prisoners - report

Homelessness is the greatest obstacle facing people on release from prison, a report released today shows.

The publication, Crime and Homelessness, was drawn up by the homeless group Focus Ireland and the service providers for ex-offenders PACE. It calls for more urgency in tackling the link between release from prison and homelessness.

The report says 61 per cent of people say they are faced with finding a home once they finish custodial sentences. Drug and alcohol problems were also cited by 41 per cent, adjusting to life outside caused problems for a third, and just over a quarter found it difficult to find a job.

Most of the 46 men and women interviewed came from socially deprived areas and had a low level of education and a history of unemployment, family breakdown, mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse. Some had also come from a background of residential childcare. They had all been in prison within the past 12 months.

A total 45 per cent of the 32 men and 16 women said homelessness was a key contributing factor leading to them reoffend in the past.

Mr Mamar Merzouk of Focus Ireland called for more targeted services for prisoners to help them get accommodation, employment and access to other services. This would prevent them from "becoming further marginalised and trapped in a cycle of homelessness that can include crime, substance abuse and other problems, which is happening at the moment.

"If prison is meant to help rehabilitate people we need to ensure people are given full support and a proper chance to get back on their feet again upon release," PACE director Ms Lisa Cuthbert said. She said accommodation is not enough without backup services and community support.

Focus Ireland and PACE called for new rules preventing people who are sentenced to less than 12 months from being removed from the Local Authority housing waiting lists. These people are faced with at least a two-year wait for housing upon their release as there are almost 55,000 people on housing waiting lists, they said.