Breaking the Cycle: Housing Needs for Women Leaving Prison in London

The London Assembly Housing Committee has published its report: Breaking the Cycle: Housing Needs for Women Leaving Prison in London. The report finds that while many of the issues facing women leaving prison are national, the scarcity of accommodation in the capital is leaving even more women without stable homes – and making it impossible to rebuild their lives.

The report makes five recommendations to the Mayor of London and the Government:

• Councils and housing associations should ringfence a proportion of their supported housing units for women released from prison.
• The Mayor should implement a standardised, pan-London training programme to improve housing support for women prison leavers.
• The Mayor’s update to his Rough Sleeping Plan of Action should specifically address how it supports women leaving prison.
• The Government should conduct an immediate review of the Community Accommodation Service Tier-3 Accommodation scheme to ensure women are not placed in unsuitable accommodation, such as accommodation with men.
• The Mayor should hold an event with all London Councils to showcase examples of best practice in housing women leaving prison.