Recurring concern
Failure to secure suitable accommodation for people released from prison
First reported 29 Mar 2017•Latest report 27 Jan 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures in arrangements specifically intended to identify accommodation needs, secure suitable accommodation, provide accommodation assistance or coordinate release accommodation for people leaving prison or custody, including Approved Premises, local-authority accommodation and post-release accommodation support.
Not included
- Excludes general homelessness or housing shortages where the concern is not specifically accommodation for people released from prison.
- Excludes mental-health treatment, probation reporting, drug support or other post-release services when accommodation provision is not the deficient condition.
- Excludes unsuitable accommodation unrelated to release from prison or custody.
- Excludes failures in release information, licence conditions or supervision where suitable accommodation is available and the accommodation-provision process is not deficient.
- Reports
- 6
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2017–2025
- Stated actions
- 12
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to engage prisoners about accommodation when they cannot find housing
Failure to commence accommodation planning with the relevant local authority
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Discuss custodial cases without release addresses at multi-agency Prison Leavers Meetings using system-generated case lists and probation-led coordination.
Stated by HM Prison & Probation Service, Probation Service, North West -
Action
Conduct a North West resettlement review and consider the consistency of multi-agency pre-release meeting arrangements within it.
Stated by HM Prison & Probation Service, Probation Service, North West -
Action
Provide co-located or visiting local-authority housing workers to support probation staff with prison-leaver accommodation needs and referrals.
Stated by HM Prison & Probation Service, Probation Service, North West
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Prison and Probation Service, not healthcare, is responsible for prisoner release and statutory housing referrals; healthcare provides treatment and collaborates.
Stated by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised2
Delays in finding CAS3 accommodation after specialist placement failure
Failure of probation officers to understand accommodation availability when planning release
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Engage regional female leads to promote Approved Premises placements for women with complex needs who pose a medium risk of harm.
Stated by Probation Service -
Action
Deliver Female Approved Premises briefings for all practitioners, emphasising placements for women with complex needs who pose a medium risk of harm.
Stated by Probation Service
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Concerns raised2
Lack of available suitable Approved Premises accommodation for prisoners released from custody
Lack of local-authority accommodation to prevent homelessness among prisoners released from custody
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Expand Approved Premises capacity to provide additional placements for people presenting the highest risks, including increased provision for women.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice -
Action
Expand CAS3 transitional accommodation to support more prison leavers and supervised people at risk of homelessness.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice -
Action
Work jointly to identify and implement further measures needed to ensure prison leavers can access accommodation.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice
-
Action
Lead departmental efforts to reduce prison homelessness and secure appropriate accommodation for offenders with higher support needs.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Local authorities have statutory responsibility to assist people facing homelessness and provide appropriate move-on accommodation from temporary placements.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice
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Concerns raised1
Lack of accommodation for people released from prison
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
-
Action
Review the Duty to Refer process to ensure referrals receive a response within three days.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council -
Action
Work with prisons through established mechanisms, including pre-release panels, to maintain robust procedures for people released at risk of homelessness.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council -
Action
Work with prison-service partners to maintain a clear referral pathway explaining housing options before release, beyond the Duty to Refer mechanism.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
Position
The Council cannot offer immediate accommodation to everyone leaving custody because legal duties, accommodation shortages and resource constraints limit provision.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
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Position
Central Government should be separately asked to consider legal duties for interim accommodation and funding for local authorities.
Stated by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
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Concerns raised1
Lack of post-release accommodation assistance
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to refer or admit high risk offenders only to accommodation capable of appropriately managing their risks
Failure to recall offenders to prison or prevent referral to unsuitable supported living accommodation
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026