1. BREAKING THE CHAIN Sustainable housing options for ex-prisoners
Dr Tony Gilmour
Sydney, 13 December 2016

2. Presentation Overview
Background to projects and some unique and interesting South Australian approaches
Key issues in housing ex-prisoners
Findings from 2016 South Australian study
Pointers for the NSWFHA 2017 project

3. Background

4. South Australian Project
Peak body sponsored, hence community housing focus, but aligned with SA Department of Correctional Services objectives
Good Ministerial and Department Head access
Desk research, interviews x 26 and focus groups
Cross-sector forum, Sep 2016
Ex-Premier leads working party

5. IHEP Integrated Housing Exits Program, 2003
Dedicated housing for 60 adult ex-prisoners and 20 young people
NBESP - new properties
9 CHPs, Tiers 1-3, 60% share of IHEP housing
Coordinated between DCS and Offenders Aid and Rehabilitation Services of SA (OARS)
Further support for people not accommodated via IHEAAS (Alternative Accommodation & Support)
36% exited IHEPS to prison

6. Reducing Re-offending

7. Key Issues in housing ex- prisoners

8. Challenges Rising imprisonment rates
High but falling reoffending rates
Per 100,000

9. Costs Around $100,000 pa, SA prisons
Life time costs $0.8 - $4.5 million
‘Hannah’: lifetime costs $1.1m. Hannah is an Aboriginal woman born 1978 with cognitive, behavioural and substance abuse issues

10. Housing Careers
Homelessness

11. Correctional Services
IHEP
Youth Justice
Housing ex-prisoners
(adults)
Community Housing
Public Housing
Support Services
Correctional Services
Second Chances
BASP
OARS
HYPA

12. Community Housing Role
UK background: fragmented approach, local links, positive benefits (Mills et al., 2013)
CHPs have greater local connectedness, good at partnerships, and ability to tailor services to need
Strong tradition of involvement by some CHPs in ex-prisoner housing
Australian sector transformation through stock transfer - note NSW impacts
Able to use in-house development capacity
Structured finance options used with not-for-profits: BASP (SA), SAHF (NSW), SDA

13. Findings from the South Australian project

14. Housing Issues
SA schemes (IHEP and IHEAAS) are good but need reviewing
Some issues for CHPs: damage/vacancies
Management/stock transfer suggests need a system covering CHPs and public housing
Social Impact Bond principles are helpful, though note limits to Bonds (complex, costly, unproven)
Property location flexibility would help minimise neighbour issues, offer more prisoner options
New supply in SA under consideration by E&Y using a gap funding approach

15. Service Delivery
SA has a coordinated whole-of-Government approach, including Correctional Services – though the system is complex
Need a ‘housing continuum’ of options for ex-prisoners, and involve prisoners themselves
Earlier contact between prisoners and support and housing agencies helps
Investment in ‘soft’ support options, mentoring, jobs, practical help (Second Chances example) are very useful

16. Breaking the Chain
… whilst stable housing plays an important role in helping to reduce the risk of re-offending, it cannot take place in isolation from other initiatives. Structural factors such as housing and employment may take away the economic need to commit crime, but desistance from offending is an active, continual process which requires ex-offenders to have the motivation not to re- offend
Mills et al. (2013)

17. Pointers for NSW 2017 project

18. Discussion Collaborative approach between NSWFHA and Homelessness NSW
Plot current housing and service delivery
Interview CHPs on issues and options
Encourage cross-departmental cooperation - though might be challenging
Identify new approaches from community housing providers
Address management transfer/regional issues