Housing and Reoffending: Supporting people who serve short-term sentences to secure and sustain stable accommodation on liberation - Research Finding

5. Research Findings – The housing problems faced by people who serve short sentences in Scotland

This research found extensive evidence that people who serve (short) sentences in Scotland face problems with housing. This confirms and adds detail to the findings of previous research. This section, briefly, describes the problems and Section 7 sets out analysis on the impact of the problems.

Loss of housing whilst in custody

As in previous research the study found that people who serve short sentences can lose housing when in custody. Analysis of this research shows that this loss can be described as ‘managed’ where the individual gives up the property voluntarily and without delay, or ‘unmanaged’ which could have significant impacts on other housing problems (including accruing arrears and finding housing on release).

Loss of possessions whilst in custody

Again reflecting earlier research this study found that loss of possessions can be a consequence of loss of housing. This can include clothing, furniture, appliances and key documents such as birth certificate or passport.

Accommodation not secure whilst in custody

A further problem found related to instances where people did not have the opportunity to secure their accommodation before going into custody (for example of, not expecting a custodial sentence or being remanded). This can increase the risk of burglary or vandalism, making housing unsuitable to return to and incurring substantial costs to the landlord or owner to make good any damage.

Arrears

Arrears build-up was found in earlier research, and this study confirmed it, as a housing problem occurring where people in custody do not or cannot make arrangements for paying their rent or mortgage. In addition the research reflected previous findings that people can enter custody already in debt to their landlord. Another problem found by this research was debt that occurs if people serving short sentences do not or cannot take action to have their utilities disconnected.

Finding and keeping housing on release

At the time of this research being homeless on release from a short sentence happens in Scotland. There was also evidence that people who serve short sentences can have problems coping with independent living which can lead to loss of housing when and if it is secured.

Poor quality housing and areas with high crime rates

Two housing problems that people that serve short sentences experience are poor quality housing and being housed in areas where there are high levels of crime. These are not unique to this group but these problems can have a detrimental effect on reintegration (see Section 7).

Temporary housing

There can be sound reasons for people leaving custody to be allocated temporary housing, for example, a halfway house as they may not be ready for the responsibility of a full tenancy immediately. The research found, however, that living in certain types of temporary accommodation (for example hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation) on release can raise significant problems for this group. The problems reported included the availability of drugs and alcohol in these settings and a lack of security. This is not a problem with temporary versus permanent housing rather about the nature of certain types of temporary accommodation.

Interconnections and desistance

Housing problems that this research found people serving short sentences can experience, were found to be interconnected. So for example, arrears could lead to loss of housing and difficulties finding and keeping a house on release whilst trying to pay the debt. Loss of housing could lead to loss of possessions making it more difficult to set up in housing on release.

As custody can cause or exacerbate housing problems and a lack of secure housing can make desistance more difficult and as each problem can compound others the research found a complex cycle of offending, custody, housing problems and difficulties in desistance.