Gary left prison with a lack of hope for the future. With the help of Nacro’s Accommodation Advice team, he secured a flat in the private rental market, preventing him from returning to prison and providing the stable foundations for him to connect with his family and continue working.
Our Accommodation Service provides tailored advice, advocacy and practical support to help people leaving prison secure and sustain accommodation across the social and private rented sectors, with the goal of preventing homelessness.
A negative outlook after time in prison
When Gary came to Nacro’s Accommodation Advice service, he was living in temporary accommodation for prison-leavers and needed to find move-on accommodation to avoid becoming homeless.
Gary arrived at Nacro quiet and reluctant to engage in support.
He believed his history of being in prison would prevent him from obtaining a reference and accessing private rented accommodation.
Whilst Gary had a job, due to his beliefs, he was spending his wages instead of saving for a deposit.
Overcoming anxieties and increasing his chances of securing a flat
Over time, Gary’s Support Worker Lianne helped him realise him that private renting was possible for people who’d been in prison.
Lianne worked with Gary to create a budget plan and understand what kind of accommodation was viable for him; she also supported him to improve his wellbeing and believe in himself.
Lianne encouraged Gary to put aside money for a deposit, helped him to draft emails to landlords, as well as supporting him to obtain a reference from his temporary accommodation.
When Gary’s offer was accepted on a flat, Nacro contributed to Gary’s deposit. Our Midlands service offers a rent-deposit scheme as a key barrier for the people we support accessing private rented accommodation is having a deposit and rent one month in advance.
A new home and a new perspective
Thanks to Nacro’s support and his proactive approach, Gary managed to secure a self-contained flat, providing the stability he needs to continue working, have his family to stay, and improve his wellbeing.
He’s regained his confidence and has realised he has a future to be excited about.
