Early-Release Prisoners Face Rising Risk of Homelessness

Published: 07 November 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Hundreds of prisoners released early across England and Wales are facing the growing risk of homelessness, raising serious concerns among probation officers, charities and social justice organisations. With winter approaching and accommodation options becoming increasingly limited, former prisoners are reportedly being left without permanent places to stay, potentially undermining efforts to reduce rough sleeping across the country.

The growing crisis has exposed a significant challenge for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s ambition to end rough sleeping in England by Christmas. Although the government has announced substantial financial support and new initiatives to tackle homelessness, charities and probation professionals argue that insufficient attention has been given to people leaving prison without secure accommodation.

For many former prisoners, securing a place to live is one of the most difficult challenges after release. Without a stable address, they can struggle to access employment, healthcare, welfare assistance and the support services necessary to rebuild their lives. The situation becomes even more complicated for individuals who must comply with strict probation requirements and electronic monitoring conditions.

One such case involves a 37-year-old man identified as James, who was released from prison in August and initially placed in temporary probation accommodation in Somerset. However, his accommodation is due to expire, leaving him facing the possibility of sleeping on the streets within days.

James said the prospect of becoming homeless was frightening. Despite contacting members of parliament, solicitors, probation services and local authorities, he has struggled to find an organisation willing to provide a permanent solution to his housing situation.

He explained that he was not seeking special treatment but simply wanted somewhere safe to live. His frustration has become so severe that he has considered deliberately violating his release conditions to be recalled to prison rather than face homelessness during the cold winter months.

His experience reflects a wider problem affecting people released from custody who have nowhere to go. According to James, many individuals he encountered while staying in probation accommodation had also been released without a confirmed address. Some were reportedly sleeping in vehicles, while others were spending nights on public benches.

The situation is particularly concerning because James has several medical conditions, including epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions make stable accommodation and access to appropriate support especially important. Nevertheless, he said his attempts to obtain temporary housing through Somerset Council and probation accommodation services had been unsuccessful.

His circumstances are further complicated by electronic monitoring requirements. James is subject to two electronic tags, including a GPS tracking device that needs to be charged every day and an alcohol monitoring device that must remain connected to a communication system.

He questioned how he could reasonably comply with these requirements if forced to sleep outdoors without reliable electricity or a secure location for his monitoring equipment. His concerns highlight the practical difficulties faced by homeless offenders who remain subject to strict supervision conditions after leaving prison.

The government’s policy of introducing a presumption of electronic tagging for certain offenders released early has added another dimension to the debate. Probation professionals warn that electronic monitoring becomes difficult to implement effectively when individuals lack stable accommodation and basic facilities.

Tania Bassett, representing Napo, the trade union for probation staff, said housing availability was already extremely limited following an earlier release programme in October. She expressed particular concern about another group of prisoners scheduled for release on 10 November.

According to Bassett, probation services are struggling to identify suitable accommodation for people leaving custody. She warned against assuming that probation officers could simply arrange housing whenever prisoners were released, explaining that many existing accommodation options were already full.

She also highlighted the contradiction between the government’s homelessness ambitions and the practical consequences of releasing prisoners without secure places to stay. While political leaders are promising significant progress in tackling rough sleeping, probation staff are increasingly concerned that vulnerable individuals could be left without shelter.

The problem is not limited to individual experiences. Figures analysed by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) indicate a substantial increase in the number of prisoners released directly into rough sleeping over recent years.

According to the charity’s analysis, the number increased by approximately 130% in three years, rising from 6,040 during the 2022-23 financial year to 14,360 in 2025-26.

The figures also suggest that rough sleeping is now recorded in approximately one in seven prison releases, compared with around one in 10 three years earlier. The proportion of releases recorded as having no fixed abode, a category covering homelessness and rough sleeping, increased from 11.3% to 15.9% over the same period.

These figures illustrate the growing difficulties facing people leaving prison and raise questions about whether existing rehabilitation and resettlement arrangements are sufficient to prevent homelessness.

Andy Keen-Downs, chief executive of Pact, said the organisation continued to encounter people returning to prison because they had failed to attend mandatory probation appointments. In many cases, individuals explained that they had been sleeping outdoors or on pieces of cardboard and had therefore been unable to meet their reporting obligations.

His comments highlight a cycle in which homelessness can contribute to further contact with the criminal justice system. People released from prison may struggle to comply with supervision requirements because they lack accommodation, while failures to attend appointments can result in their return to custody.

Charities argue that this cycle undermines rehabilitation and creates additional pressure on an already stretched prison system. Without secure housing, employment opportunities and appropriate support, former prisoners may find it extremely difficult to establish stable lives after release.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the social justice organisation Nacro, has also raised concerns about the scale of the challenge. During a recent prison visit, he found that the institution was working towards ensuring that 84% of prisoners had accommodation arranged when they were released.

However, the target effectively acknowledged that a significant proportion could still leave custody without a roof over their heads. Solomon warned that although the government recognises the importance of prison-leaver homelessness, developing an effective response is taking time, while the need for action is immediate.

Burnham’s wider homelessness strategy includes a funding commitment of approximately £874 million intended to support efforts to end rough sleeping in England. Charities have welcomed the financial commitment but argue that the programme contains an important weakness because insufficient funding has been specifically allocated to support people leaving prison.

Keen-Downs described the absence of dedicated post-prison accommodation and support funding as a serious flaw in the government’s approach. He argued that providing additional beds alone would not solve the problem because former prisoners also require assistance to move from custody into stable accommodation and remain there.

Such support can include access to mental health services, addiction treatment, employment assistance, financial advice and help rebuilding relationships with family members. Without these services, even people who initially secure temporary accommodation may struggle to maintain their housing arrangements.

Bassett also called for a specific portion of the government’s homelessness funding to be allocated to prisoners leaving custody. She warned that failing to direct resources towards this group could represent a missed opportunity to break the repeated cycle of imprisonment and homelessness.

She indicated that probation staff and their representatives would make strong representations to the Chancellor to ensure that the needs of former prisoners were considered in future funding decisions.

Somerset Council has defended its approach to homelessness, stating that it has a statutory responsibility to assess the circumstances of people who are homeless or at risk of losing their accommodation. The authority said it provides appropriate advice and support while exploring suitable housing options. It also reiterated its commitment to preventing homelessness wherever possible and ending rough sleeping across the county.

The government has also defended its wider strategy, saying it is working with local councils and charities to address homelessness among people leaving prison. A government spokesperson highlighted investment in probation services and initiatives intended to ensure that people sleeping rough are offered a route away from the streets or access to wider support by Christmas.

Officials also pointed to programmes designed to improve employment opportunities for former prisoners. Through training initiatives and partnerships with hundreds of employers, the government aims to help people move directly into jobs after release, allowing them to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.

However, charities and probation professionals believe that employment programmes cannot succeed without addressing the immediate need for safe accommodation. People cannot easily attend job interviews, maintain employment or participate in rehabilitation programmes when they are uncertain where they will sleep each night.

As temperatures fall and another group of prisoners prepares for early release, pressure is mounting on local authorities, probation services and housing organisations to find practical solutions. The experiences of people such as James demonstrate that homelessness after prison is not simply a housing issue but also a challenge involving public safety, rehabilitation, mental health and social responsibility.

The coming weeks will therefore provide an important test of the government’s commitment to ending rough sleeping. Without dedicated accommodation and comprehensive support for people leaving custody, charities fear that the country’s homelessness ambitions could remain difficult to achieve, leaving some of the most vulnerable individuals exposed to freezing conditions and an uncertain future.