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		New! Guide to Choice Based Lettings Schemes By the end of 2010, every council in England should be operating a new system of allocating housing, called Choice Based Lettings (CBLs) and therefore their introduction is an important development in the field of social housing. This guide provides advice about how individuals access CBL schemes, who can participate in them, how to participate in them, how such schemes prioritise applicants and restrictions of which individuals, particularly those leaving prison, may need to be aware.

		Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 enables cautions, reprimands, final warnings and convictions to become 'spent' or forgotten after a rehabilitation period. This guide sets out the rehabilitation periods, explains the benefits of the Act and sets out the types of employment that are exempt from it.

		Applying for council housing Most prisoners in need of housing on release will not be able to obtain housing through the council, whether this be a council property or a place with a local housing association. This is despite the fact that under The Homelessness Act 2002, some prisoners may be regarded as in ‘priority need’ (see page 2). They will not be able to obtain accommodation through the council because there is a shortage of council and housing association places, which means that councils can, out of necessity, only provide housing to the most vulnerable people.

		Making use of advice services There are many services around the country providing help and advice on a variety of issues of concern to prisoners on release. Some of these services go into prisons on a regular basis while others are based in prison. This guide focuses on those services outside prison, many of which are listed on Resettlement Services Finder.

		Prisoners’ housing options There are four main housing options for people being released from prison: general needs housing; hostels and supported housing; private-rented accommodation; and family and friends. Many of the general needs and hostels and supported housing providers are listed on Resettlement Services Finder. Prisoners requiring these services should seek help and advice from prison and probation staff, especially as some housing associations and hostels are poor at responding to direct enquiries from prisoners.

		Applying for hostel accommodation Prisoners in need of housing on release stand a better chance of securing a place in a hostel than they do of securing council or general needs housing association accommodation. However, only a very small proportion of prisoners go into hostel accommodation on release because there is not enough of it. While many prisoners are not willing to move into a hostel, the fact remains that demand for hostel places far exceeds supply

		Education and training options Many prisoners will be looking for work on release. Most will be seeking work in order to earn a living, to support themselves and their families, and to get on. However, securing employment will be difficult: many employers would automatically reject someone who has recently been released from prison, regardless of the relevance of the offence or the contribution the individual can make as an employee. Often the employer will reject the individual because the contribution they can make is limited. Many prisoners, though certainly not all, lack basic skills, qualifications and work experience – key requirements for most jobs. Many prisoners require a period of education, training and support to make them ready for employment.

		Click here to download a copy of the Sorting Out Your Housing training booklet Multimedia training material to be used to help current prisoners and ex-prisoners understand the issues they may face regarding housing whilst in prison and upon their release. An adapted PowerPoint containing the OHP material is here (right click and select 'Save Target As...' to download file) and the video is found below (the video may take a few seconds to load):

		Managing your money If you will be leaving prison in the next few months and you are worried about how you will cope with money on the outside, then this guide is for you. It includes a checklist of things you need to do before release, and it gives contact details for useful organisations. The checklist will help you to plan ahead for your release, so that you can take control of your money situation.

		Managing your money and debts If you need to improve the way in which you manage your money and deal with outstanding debts, then this leaflet is for you.

		Claiming welfare benefits Advice on welfare benefit entitlements and how to claim them.