Prison Leaver Accommodation & Resettlement Support

From Custody to Stability, Independence and a Place to Call Home

SEETE provides safe, structured accommodation and resettlement support for people leaving prison who are at risk of homelessness.

Our Prison Leaver Accommodation Pathway is designed to provide more than a roof over someone's head.

It provides the time, stability, support and personal responsibility needed to help an individual successfully transition from custody into independent community living.

SEETE currently provides five fully furnished, self-contained apartments specifically designated for prison leavers, alongside practical resettlement support and a structured pathway towards longer-term accommodation.

Residents can remain within the service for approximately three to twelve months, subject to individual circumstances, suitability and progress towards appropriate move-on accommodation.

Make a Referral Enquiry

Discuss Commissioning or Partnership Opportunities

Why Accommodation After Prison Matters

Leaving prison without somewhere safe and stable to live can make almost every other part of rehabilitation more difficult.

Without suitable accommodation, a prison leaver may struggle to:

• Engage consistently with probation
• Access employment
• Attend education or training
• Maintain recovery
• Register with healthcare services
• Manage benefits and finances
• Rebuild family relationships
• Establish a stable routine
• Avoid previous negative environments
• Plan realistically for the future

SEETE believes accommodation should therefore be viewed as more than a housing issue.

It can be the foundation upon which successful resettlement is built.

More Than a Place to Stay

A Structured Pathway Towards Independence

SEETE's objective is not to create long-term dependency upon supported accommodation.

Our aim is to help residents develop the stability, skills and confidence required to successfully maintain accommodation of their own.

Each resident's circumstances are different, so support is tailored around individual needs and agreed objectives.

This can include:

Safe, fully furnished self-contained accommodation

Support obtaining identification and essential documentation

Universal Credit and benefit applications

Local authority housing applications

Housing register and bidding support

Healthcare registration and access

Signposting and referrals to mental health services

Substance misuse and recovery support referrals

Employment, education and training signposting

Budgeting and practical life skills

Regular welfare and wellbeing contact

Tenancy preparation

Move-on planning

and support developing the practical routines required for independent living.

The SEETE Resettlement Pathway

Stage 1 – Pre-Release Planning

Where possible, successful resettlement begins before the prison gate opens.

SEETE can work alongside prison resettlement teams, probation and other professionals to understand an individual's circumstances and begin planning for release.

Pre-release discussions can consider:

• Accommodation history
• Identification/documentation
• Benefits
• Health needs
• Substance misuse/recovery support
• Employment and education
• Family circumstances
• Financial issues
• Licence requirements
• Existing professional support
• Move-on aspirations

The objective is to reduce the number of avoidable problems waiting for somebody on their first day outside prison.

Stage 2 – Arrival & Stabilisation

The First Days After Release Matter

Moving directly from custody into the community can be overwhelming, particularly following a lengthy sentence or repeated periods of imprisonment.

On arrival, residents are supported to understand their accommodation, responsibilities and the expectations of the service.

This period focuses on stability and routine.

Depending upon individual needs, early priorities can include:

• Settling safely into the accommodation
• Benefits
• Food and essential items
• Identification
• Healthcare
• Probation requirements
• Prescriptions
• Telephone and communication
• Appointments
• Immediate support referrals

The objective is to establish a stable starting point from which longer-term progress can begin.

Stage 3 – Personal Development & Progression

Once immediate needs have stabilised, attention moves towards the future.

SEETE encourages residents to become increasingly responsible for managing their own lives.

Support can focus on:

Employment

Education and training

Budgeting

Health and wellbeing

Recovery

Relationships

Positive social networks

Independent living skills

Personal development

Long-term housing

and establishing realistic goals for life in the community.

The aim is not to do everything for the resident.

It is to help the resident develop the ability and confidence to increasingly do things for themselves.

Stage 4 – Move-On & Independent Living

From the beginning of a placement, SEETE's longer-term objective is appropriate move-on accommodation.

Residents can receive support with:

• Local authority housing pathways
• Housing applications
• Property searches
• Tenancy preparation
• Budgeting
• Understanding tenancy responsibilities
• Utility arrangements
• Furnishing and essential household needs
• Maintaining professional support
• Planning for the transition into independent accommodation

A successful placement should end not simply because someone's allotted time has expired, but with the strongest possible plan for sustainable accommodation and continued stability.

Lived Experience Makes Our Approach Different

Understanding the Reality of Leaving Prison

Leaving custody can look straightforward on paper.

In reality, somebody may leave prison carrying their belongings in a bag while simultaneously trying to manage probation, benefits, accommodation, healthcare, family relationships, employment, recovery and the emotional adjustment to being back in the community.

For somebody who has spent a substantial period in custody, even ordinary aspects of independent living can feel unfamiliar.

SEETE's approach is informed by lived experience of custody, rehabilitation and reintegration.

That allows us to understand some of the practical and emotional challenges that are easily overlooked.

But lived experience does not mean lowering expectations.

We combine understanding with accountability.

Residents are expected to engage constructively, respect their accommodation, work towards agreed objectives and take increasing responsibility for their future.

Supporting Rehabilitation & Reducing Reoffending

Stable accommodation does not guarantee that somebody will stop offending.

But trying to build a stable life while homeless makes rehabilitation considerably harder.

Secure accommodation can provide the foundation from which an individual can engage with:

• Probation
• Recovery services
• Healthcare
• Employment
• Education
• Family
• Personal development
• Positive community networks

SEETE therefore sees accommodation as one part of a wider rehabilitation and resettlement pathway.

Our objective is not simply:

“Where will this person sleep tonight?”

We also ask:

“What needs to happen so this person can eventually sustain a home of their own?”

Who May Be Suitable for the SEETE Pathway?

Potential referrals can be considered from people preparing to leave custody who:

• Are at risk of homelessness or have no appropriate release accommodation
• Require a structured period of accommodation following release
• Are willing to engage with resettlement planning
• Are prepared to work towards independent living
• Can live safely within the accommodation available
• Are willing to comply with the requirements of the service
• Have needs that can be appropriately managed within SEETE's provision

Every referral should be considered individually.

Placement is subject to assessment, risk considerations, suitability and accommodation availability.

Referral & Assessment Process

Making Referrals Clear and Straightforward

SEETE welcomes referral discussions with appropriate prison, probation and resettlement professionals.

A typical referral pathway can involve:

1. Initial Enquiry

The referring professional contacts SEETE regarding a potential placement.

2. Referral Information

Relevant information is provided to enable SEETE to consider accommodation needs, support requirements, risks and suitability.

3. Assessment

SEETE considers whether the individual's needs can be safely and appropriately supported within the available accommodation.

4. Pre-Release Planning

Where a placement is agreed, SEETE works with relevant professionals to prepare for release and arrival.

5. Placement

The resident moves into their allocated accommodation and begins their agreed resettlement pathway.

6. Progress & Move-On

SEETE supports the resident towards appropriate longer-term housing and increasing independence.

Discuss a Potential Referral

Working Alongside Probation & Criminal Justice Partners

Successful resettlement requires partnership working.

SEETE can work alongside:

HMPPS

Prison Resettlement Teams

Probation Practitioners

Homelessness Prevention Teams

Local Authority Housing Departments

Commissioned Rehabilitative Services

Substance Misuse Services

Healthcare Providers

Mental Health Services

Employment and Education Providers

Voluntary and Community Organisations

and other professionals involved in an individual's rehabilitation and resettlement.

Our aim is to complement existing statutory and commissioned services, not duplicate them.

How SEETE Fits Alongside Existing HMPPS Accommodation

HMPPS already provides different forms of temporary accommodation through its Community Accommodation Service (CAS).

SEETE should not describe itself as CAS1, CAS2 or CAS3 unless formally commissioned to provide that service.

Instead, our accommodation can form part of the wider network of local, voluntary, commissioned and partnership-based housing solutions available to people leaving custody, subject to referral arrangements and individual suitability.

Where another statutory or commissioned accommodation pathway is more appropriate for an individual, referrals should continue through that service.

Our objective is simple:

To increase the number of realistic pathways away from homelessness and towards stable accommodation.

Measuring Outcomes

SEETE can record and report appropriate outcomes to commissioning and referral partners.

Depending upon the arrangement, these can include:

• Placements commenced
• Placement duration
• Engagement with probation
• Benefits established
• Identification obtained
• Healthcare registration
• Engagement with recovery services
• Education or training
• Employment progression
• Housing applications
• Independent living skills
• Successful move-on
• Settled accommodation outcomes
• Resident feedback

This enables SEETE and our partners to understand not simply how many people were accommodated, but what progress was achieved during the placement.

Connecting Accommodation With SEETE's Other Services

SEETE's wider services create opportunities to support different stages of rehabilitation.

Residents may benefit from:

Accredited Mentor Training
Developing recognised skills, responsibility and opportunities to support others.

Awareness & Rehabilitation Programmes
Supporting reflection, personal development and positive decision-making.

Lived Experience Mentoring
Providing credible support around the realities of rehabilitation and reintegration.

Our work inside prisons can also help establish relationships before release, creating greater continuity between custody and community.

Commissioning & Partnership Opportunities

SEETE welcomes conversations with HMPPS, probation regions, prisons, local authorities, commissioners, housing partners and charitable organisations interested in developing accommodation and resettlement pathways for prison leavers.

Opportunities may include:

• Referral partnerships
• Reserved accommodation placements
• Block-funded provision
• Pilot projects
• Resettlement partnerships
• Pre-release and post-release support
• Additional accommodation development
• Outcome-based reporting
• Integrated SEETE rehabilitation packages

We are particularly interested in partnerships that recognise that successful resettlement requires more than temporary accommodation alone.

Refer a Prison Leaver to SEETE

A Home Can Be the Starting Point for a Different Future

Leaving prison should not mean leaving somebody with nowhere to go.

SEETE provides a structured pathway from custody → accommodation → stability → personal development → independent living.

Our combination of accommodation, practical resettlement support and lived experience helps individuals address immediate needs while working towards longer-term independence.

For referrals, accommodation availability, commissioning discussions or partnership enquiries, please contact SEETE.

Make a Referral Enquiry

Discuss Commissioning With SEETE

Contact SEETE

Supporting Prison Leavers Into Safe, Stable Accommodation

Reducing Homelessness, Rebuilding Lives, Preventing Reoffending

At SEETE (Securing Enabling Environments Through Empowerment), we understand that one of the biggest challenges facing individuals leaving prison is finding a safe and stable place to live.

For many prison leavers, release from custody can be a time of uncertainty. Without suitable accommodation, individuals often face significant barriers to rebuilding their lives, accessing employment, reconnecting with family, engaging with support services, and complying with probation requirements.

Research consistently shows that homelessness is one of the strongest factors linked to reoffending. Individuals released without stable accommodation are significantly more likely to return to criminal behaviour, experience exploitation, struggle with mental health, and become trapped in cycles of instability.

SEETE was established to help break that cycle.

Our Accommodation Support Service

SEETE provides safe, fully furnished, self-contained accommodation for prison leavers who would otherwise face homelessness upon release.

Our accommodation offers individuals the opportunity to stabilise, rebuild confidence, and work towards long-term independence within a safe and supportive environment.

We currently provide five self-contained apartments specifically designated for prison leavers who have no suitable accommodation available at the point of release.

Residents can stay between three and twelve months, depending on their individual circumstances and how long it takes to secure suitable long-term housing.

Our accommodation is not simply a place to stay. It is a structured pathway towards independence, personal responsibility, and successful reintegration into the community.

How We Help

Every individual referred to SEETE receives personalised support designed to address the practical barriers that often contribute to homelessness and reoffending.

Our support includes:

• Safe, furnished accommodation
• Assistance obtaining identification and essential documentation
• Support with Universal Credit and benefit applications
• Housing applications and bidding support
• Liaison with local authority housing departments
• Support accessing healthcare services
• Referrals to mental health and substance misuse services
• Employment, education and training signposting
• Life skills development
• Regular welfare and wellbeing checks
• Move-on planning and tenancy preparation

Our aim is to help individuals build the confidence, skills, and stability needed to sustain independent living.

Working Alongside Criminal Justice Partners

SEETE works collaboratively with:

• His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS)
• Prison Resettlement Teams
• Probation Practitioners
• Local Authority Housing Departments
• Commissioned Rehabilitative Services
• Substance Misuse Services
• Mental Health Providers
• Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations

By working together, we ensure that individuals receive coordinated support both before and after release from custody.

A Structured Pathway to Independence

Our support model follows four key stages:

Pre-Release Planning

Prior to release, we work with prisons and probation services to identify suitable individuals, assess needs, and begin planning for accommodation and support requirements.

Arrival and Stabilisation

Residents receive an induction, support plan, and guidance to help them settle into accommodation safely and positively.

Personal Development and Progression

During their stay, residents engage with support services, housing pathways, education, employment opportunities, and personal development activities designed to support long-term change.

Move-On and Community Reintegration

Our team supports residents to secure permanent accommodation and successfully transition into independent living, ensuring continuity of support wherever possible.

Helping Reduce Reoffending

Stable accommodation provides a foundation for change.

When individuals have a safe place to live, they are more likely to:

• Engage with probation requirements
• Access healthcare and support services
• Secure employment and training opportunities
• Maintain family relationships
• Improve their mental wellbeing
• Avoid homelessness and exploitation
• Build positive futures free from crime

By addressing homelessness at the earliest opportunity, SEETE helps create safer communities while supporting individuals to achieve meaningful and lasting change.

Our Commitment

SEETE believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their life.

Our work is guided by lived experience, professional practice, and a commitment to empowerment, accountability, and rehabilitation.

We do not simply provide accommodation—we provide a pathway to stability, independence, and hope.

Together with our partners, we are helping to reduce homelessness, reduce reoffending, and create opportunities for individuals to move forward with dignity and purpose.

Contact SEETE

To discuss referrals, partnership opportunities, accommodation availability, or commissioning arrangements, please contact our team.