A serving prisoner is to join the staff of a housing association to help set up support systems for people leaving jail.
The move follows increasing realisation that prison leavers – a new housing priority category as the Homelessness Act became law last week – have little support from the housing sector. It is hoped other social landlords will follow suit.

Under the unique 12-month scheme by Irwell Valley Housing Association, prisoner John Peacock will travel daily from Sudbury prison in the Midlands to the association’s head office in Manchester.

If he successfully completes a three-month trial period, he will become the officer responsible for a new scheme using 15 houses in Salford and Trafford. Salford probation service is putting in £10,000 to get the scheme for ex-prisoners off the ground.

Peacock is currently serving seven years in jail for importing drugs.

He was a leading member of the innovative housing service run by prisoners at Buckley Hall prison in Rochdale (Housing Today, 7 June), and studied for Chartered Institute of Housing qualifications there.

The scheme has helped 80 per cent of its clients into settled housing on release. It estimates only 30 per cent have reoffended, compared with three quarters of those sentenced nationally for burglary and theft.

Buckley Hall’s housing advice centre has been closely studied by the Social Exclusion Unit, which is preparing a report into cutting reoffending rates, to be published in May.

It estimates two in five prisoners will be homeless on release.

During his trial period at Irwell Valley, Peacock will be paid slightly more than the minimum wage and will tackle general estate duties. He will then take up his housing officer post on the same terms as other staff for the rest of the year.

Housing director John Denny said the experiment would help ex-prisoners reintegrate into the community, and hopes other social landlords will join the scheme by offering empty housing.

Denny added: “There is a risk in employing a prisoner, but we are happy to run with it. John has been very open and has a lot to lose if this does not work out. We will inform staff fully about the situation.”

Source

Housing Today