Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 December 2025 · HC 702
Information provided from Cardiff Council, relating to housing and homelessness services to prison leavers
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Summary
Cardiff Council responds to a Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry on housing and homelessness services for prison leavers. The Council describes its multi-faceted approach—including a Prison Link Officer, Housing First scheme, and Multi-Disciplinary Team—while identifying systemic challenges: inconsistent Prison Link Applications from Forward Trust, delayed Housing Risk Assessments from probation, insufficient private rented sector affordability, and acute pressure from asylum seekers and general homelessness demand.
Key findings
- Cardiff Council maintains a Prison Link Officer and base within HMP Cardiff to establish Housing Plans for individuals leaving prison, but faces inconsistent and incomplete Prison Link Applications from Forward Trust, some arriving on the day of release.
- Housing Risk Assessments from probation officers are frequently delayed, preventing accommodation providers from receiving complete risk and support information and forcing placement in emergency provision.
- The Housing First for Prison Leavers scheme achieves a 75% tenancy sustainment rate and has supported one previously prolific offender to avoid reoffending for 5 years, but expansion is limited by rising private rents (average £860.38 for 1-bed vs. £650 Local Housing Allowance).
- Private rented sector has become largely unaffordable and landlords are reluctant to let to known prison leavers; Cardiff is exploring Housing Associations' HMO accommodation as an alternative pathway.
- Over 8,500 people await social housing on Cardiff's Common Housing Waiting List; the Council is delivering 2,800 new council homes (1,032 completed to date) but move-on from temporary accommodation remains slow.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Cardiff Council, Forward Trust, Welsh Affairs Committee, HMP Cardiff, HMPPS, Probation Service, St Giles's Trust, Welsh Government
Notable line
“We fully understand the pressures that are impacting on all parts of the system and that these pressures can result in such problems occurring …”
Key Quotes
“The Council has had a base within HMP Cardiff for the last 12 months which allows a more joined up approach between services and crucially a better understanding of the individual' s needs through face-to-face assessment .”
“Cardiff's Homeless Services are seeing a lack of consistency in the Prison Link Applications (PLA) being received from Forward Trust who complete the PLAs on behalf of HMPPS .”
“Part of the homeless assessment requires receipt of the Housing Risk Assessment (HRA) from the Probation Officer; however, we are often having to chas e for this information.”
“The project is currently supporting 1 3 individuals, of which 10 are accommodated via the project and a further 3 are receiving support whilst in prison to secure accommodation on release.”
“Data gathered from October this year showed the average rent for a 1 bed rented property in Cardiff was £860.38 giving a shortfall when compared to Local Housing Allowance rates of just over £ 210 per calendar month …”
“Regrettably we are faced with many landlords reluctant to consider offering a Contract (tenancy) to anyone known to be a prison leaver.”
“Cardiff currently has over 8500 on the Common Housing Waiting L ist, which is shared by all social landlords in the city.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗