Priority housing needs for prisoners and ex-offenders
In some circumstances, we might decide you are in priority need because you have spent time in prison or on remand.
We'll need to decide if you should be regarded as being vulnerable, just because you're homeless. This has a particular meaning for homelessness applications and is not the same as being labelled vulnerable in prison.
When considering your homelessness application, we'll look at:
- the length of time you spent in prison
- if any third-party support is being provided to you either by the probation service, a youth offending team, or a drug and alcohol team
- evidence provided by any third party (including any housing needs assessment) about your homelessness vulnerability
- the period of time since your release from prison and how successful you have been finding your own accommodation and in keeping that accommodation
- any third-party support networks such as family, friends or a probation officer
- evidence of any other vulnerability such as mental health problems, drug or alcohol misuse, or a history of having been in care
- any other factors that might have an impact on your ability to find accommodation yourself
Having been in prison doesn't mean that we have to treat you as being vulnerable and in priority need for accommodation.
We'll need to assess the evidence and be satisfied that you'll find it difficult to seek out and maintain accommodation for yourself, compared to other people who are homeless.
Contact us to find out more about how we decide if you're in priority need.
Email: homeless.intervention@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 4370