Centre for Mental Health

Housing instability is linked to poor mental health and offending, says Centre for Mental Health

14 December 2011

Without a safe and stable place to live offenders with mental health problems are likely to become trapped in a cycle of offending and homelessness, according to a briefing paper released today by Centre for Mental Health.

A place to live: Securing stable accommodation for offenders with mental health problems finds that timely access to appropriate housing support is one of the most important factors in breaking the cycle of offending. However, getting and keeping a home is only part of the picture. Many, if not most, offenders have multiple needs and require comprehensive support to make the transition from chaos to stability.

The report warns that the current wide-ranging policy changes, alongside cuts to local spending, could have a disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable groups including offenders, leading to greater costs to society in the longer term.

Nearly one third of prisoners have no accommodation on their release and a considerable proportion of people in the homeless population also have offending histories. Mental health problems are the norm, not the exception, among offenders. An estimated 90% of prisoners have a mental health problem, substance misuse problem or personality disorder, while 70% have two or more of these problems and approximately 1 in 10 will be affected by severe mental illness (i.e. psychosis).

A place to live reflects growing concerns about the growing number of children and young people affected by homelessness. Families experiencing homelessness tend to live unstable lives and this can have a negative impact on a child’s wellbeing and future life chances. As many as 80,000 young people (16- 24 year olds) experience homelessness every year.

The report makes six key recommendations:

• The ministerial working group on tackling and preventing homelessness should develop clear policy and guidance on the pathways into stable accommodation for offenders with mental health problems;
• Liaison and diversion services should include access to housing advice and support as a standard part of their practice;
• Commissioners and providers should consider how services can provide integrated and tailored support for people with multiple and complex needs;
• Health and wellbeing boards should have clear powers and broad membership including representatives from housing and criminal justice;
• The evidence base for different models of housing support for people with complex needs, including offenders with mental health problems, needs to be further developed;
• Commissioners and providers need to understand and meet the specific accommodation needs of children and young people. Early intervention, homelessness prevention and improving mental health should be a key priority.

Commenting on the report Sean Duggan, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health said:

“Homelessness is more than just a housing problem. Tackling and preventing homelessness is vital if we are to break the cycle of offending behaviour and build safer communities for everyone.

“The current climate of public spending pressures presents opportunities for relevant agencies, such as housing, health and criminal justice, to work together to ensure investment in the most successful and cost-effective interventions.  This will help people get their lives back on track and, most importantly, reduce reoffending.”