PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Women prisoner leavers and homelessness (25 February 2021)

That this House notes official statistics showing that 42 per cent of women released from prison in 2019-20 were discharged into unsettled accommodation; further notes that the Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison initiative estimates that as many as six in ten women leave prison with nowhere safe to go; highlights that women released into homelessness are more likely to offend and are at increased risk of returning to harmful behaviours, possibly including having to return to abusive relationships; welcomes the recent announcement of government funding to house prison leavers in temporary accommodation, but expresses concern that people will only be housed for a maximum of 12 weeks; expresses further concern that the initiative is only being launched in five of the 12 probation regions in England and Wales, seemingly with no specific measures to address the particular needs of women; and urges the Government to expand this initiative nationwide and introduce specific measures to end completely the practice of releasing women from prison into homelessness.

Sponsored by:
Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat)