Making a fresh start

As part of our commitment to addressing the many facets of homelessness, Haven has partnered with Corrections Victoria and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to investigate housing options for people leaving prisons and correctional facilities.

Our Prison Exit Initial Assessment and Planning Worker provides an outreach service to Castlemaine’s HMP Loddon prison to help exiting prisoners access suitable housing as they re-connect with the community.

This service, funded by DHS, can involve:

• Completing and lodging Office of Housing applications on behalf of prisoners and acting as an advocate when necessary
• Advocating with housing providers to maintain the tenancies of people completing short term sentences, usually up to 6 months, so that they can resume their tenancies upon release.
• Negotiating suitable interim housing for prisoners who are being released on parole or straight release.

Haven is also involved in purchasing and supplying ‘nomination rights’ properties to Corrections Victoria. These properties, sourced from our Affordable Housing Association program, are used solely to house ex-prisoners who are transitioning back into the community with the support of a case manager

Tenants of these properties are initially placed on a short term Corrections Victoria lease. If the tenancy is successful, the lease transfers to Haven’s AHA program on an ongoing basis. To date, between 70-80 per cent of tenants have made a successful transition to the AHA program.

By June 2012, we expect to have housed 14 Corrections Victoria clients through the nomination rights program and will purchase another 15 properties to help exiting prisoners make a fresh start.

“Our prisons outreach service is making a huge difference to the lives of people exiting our prisons.. Having somewhere to live gives them the stability they need to re-establish themselves in the community and work towards a better life.”
Judy Carter, Prison Exit Initial Assessment and Planning Worker