Homelessness: It’s a Crime - the impact and costs of a failing system

The relationship between homelessness and crime is complex. Homelessness can be both a cause and a result of crime. That there is a link is clear, and as many of the 4,000 prisoners released each year with a Welsh local connection have accommodation problems it is an issue with far reaching consequences. Shelter Cymru believes that long-term solutions that effectively combat homelessness and housing need will contribute to other social policy targets such as improved health and improved educational achievement, but importantly, challenging homelessness among offenders will make a very significant contribution to crime prevention in Wales. In Wales, the vulnerability of former prisoners to homelessness has been legislatively recognised through the introduction of the Homeless Person’s (Priority Need) (Wales) Order 2001. This gives priority need status to ex-prisoners without the additional burden of proving vulnerability. In Shelter Cymru’s view this status has not been consistently matched by adequate priority and resourcing for the services required to accommodate, resettle and support released prisoners who are homeless or facing homelessness and who often have associated problems including drug and alcohol issues.

Publication Date: 
2004