LSA project aims to break offender disadvantage cycle

Legal Services Agency has launched a project to tackle the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage for offenders sentenced to prison.

Titled "Disrupting Cycles of Disadvantage: Early Intervention in Homelessness", the project will provide support to people detained in HMP Greenock and Low Moss. The law centre will work with individuals and their families within a few weeks of their entering prison and in the six to eight weeks leading to their release, to establish their specific legal and other support needs.

Funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity (Frontline Fund) for three years, the aim is that by providing tailored legal advice and representation, those helped will be empowered to understand their housing options and navigate legal processes, enabling them to retain or obtain a safe place in which they feel at home. This will provide them with security and break the recurring cycle of homelessness and disadvantage.

The project has been set up against a backdrop of those who encounter the criminal justice system being more likely to experience homelessness, and with little to no person-centred support, to be more likely to be exposed to circumstances which can lead to reoffending. The likelihood increases where there are other aggravating factors such as mental ill health, disabilities, alcohol and/or substance abuse and neurodiversity.

"Whilst homelessness is a serious problem, it is one that can be overcome with suitable solutions which empower the people we work with to regain their independence and get the housing and health support they need", Legal Services Agency said. "We are confident that through providing legal representation, improving accessibility to legal advice and providing specialist referrals for the appropriate service, together, we can make a difference."