Homeless after leaving prison

What to do if you'll be homeless after leaving prison

If you apply to us for housing assistance because you are homeless after leaving prison, we aren't always legally obliged to provide you with a home.

You might need to use emergency accommodation.

Our duty to you might be limited to providing you with advice and assistance, not actual accommodation.

To legally provide you with accommodation, we will have to be satisfied that you are eligible, homeless, in priority need and that you have not made yourself intentionally homeless.

We'll take into account if you have spent time in prison, when deciding how to treat you, even if it has been some time since you were released.

We'll also look at whether you:

  • have a mental illness
  • have a learning disability or physical disability
  • are under 21, or have been in care and are under 21
  • were in the armed forces
  • are fleeing violence or threats of violence

We could decide not to provide you with permanent accommodation, if we consider that you made yourself intentionally homeless.

Find out how to tell us you'll be homeless.