Work to prevent prison leavers from Flintshire becoming homeless comes in for praise

Work to prevent prison leavers from Flintshire becoming homeless has been hailed by a senior politician. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority said almost a tenth of people it deals with who have either lost the roof over their heads or are at risk have been released from prison. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As a result, the council has put extra support in place to help prisoners secure accommodation before their release date. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In the last 12 months, a dedicated staff member worked with 42 inmates to reduce the risk of them becoming homeless. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Dave Hughes, cabinet member for housing, said officers deserved thanks for the assistance provided to vulnerable people. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking at a meeting of the ruling Labour administration held yesterday, (DEL TUESDAY 16 JULY) he said: “Prison leavers represent about 8.7 per cent of homelessness. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This council has a dedicated worker who will work with prisoners before they are released and reduce the risk of them being homeless on release. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This work is evidencing some good outcomes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There is a significant amount of work taking place to provide support, advice and signposting to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is a challenging area of work for those officers and I would like to thank them for the work they are doing.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A regional strategy group set up to tackle homelessness has also created a dedicated pathway for prison leavers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officials said former inmates faced a number of barriers to finding suitable accommodation. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

During the meeting, councillors also backed a range of other initiatives to help rough sleepers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Another key area of focus is supporting people with mental health issues. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a report presented to the cabinet, Mr Hughes said: “In 2018/19, just over 41 per cent of triages completed indicated the applicant had mental health concerns. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The service is working with colleagues in adult social services to secure the provision of a mental health worker in the housing solutions team. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This will help the service to better understand the issues our customers are faced with.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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