Housing support for ex-offenders 'could save taxpayer thousands'

25 February 2011 1 min read Lauren Higgs Youth Justice Probation, resettlement and rehabilitation

Providing teenagers leaving custody with suitable housing could save the taxpayer almost 70,000 for each young person, research by Barnardo's has found.

But if every young offender were to receive the support they need, this could create savings of £67,000 per child.

The Barnardo’s report argues that suitable accommodation and support for young people leaving custody is crucial to achieving the government’s "rehabilitation revolution".

But the charity is warning that significant numbers of children as young as 13 are leaving custody without a safe place to live.

In 2009/10, Barnardo’s received 4,147 referrals asking it to help young people in custody. Within these referrals, housing came out as one of the top five concerns.

Barnardo’s is now calling on government to develop a cross-departmental action plan to make suitable accommodation for young people leaving custody an urgent priority.

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