The Victorian Government is set to help prisoners who have served their sentences avoid crisis accommodation and getting caught in a loop of homelessness through a new $33 million project.
The Arc project, with the journey of prisoners’ transition into society reflective of an arc, has experts working with individuals to secure stable housing months before a person’s release.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said rebuilding a life after being in prison is tough.
“Having stable housing is so important. We need to embrace doing things differently so we get different results – for individuals and the community,” he said.
Arc will provide and help maintain accommodation for participants for up to two years while simultaneously supporting them with finding long-term housing. The success of the project will be measured in recidivism (re-offending) levels, sustained housing success and reduced call on acute services related to anti-social behaviour and offending.
“We know the significance of housing in people being able to turn their lives around and reducing offending, and that’s why we’re backing this program,” Minister for Corrections Natalie Hutchins said.
The project is in partnership with the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO) and Social Ventures Australia, boosting the capacity of VACRO – Victoria’s oldest and only specialised justice integration service – to provide practical and emotional support to ease the transition of men and women re-entering the community.
VACRO case workers will engage with prison and community corrections staff and clients to develop a viable exit strategy up to three months before a person’s release date.
Keith ‘Fuzzy’ is one example of a man who was released from prison two years ago after working with VACRO to secure a unit, and now has a job and is working towards securing a long-term home. ‘Fuzzy’ said stable accommodation for his successful reintroduction into his community and completion of his parole.“When I was about to be released from prison, my greatest stress and fear was not having a roof over my head. You can’t get work if you don’t have a place to lay your head down,” he said.
“Now I am in a safe and stable home, the stresses of not being fed or warm, especially in winter, are gone, so I can now focus on other things, like reconnecting with my family, my rehabilitation, and going to work.”
Arc is the Victorian Government’s fifth Partnership Addressing Disadvantage, and Social Ventures Australia will raise investor capital to establish a social impact bond to part-fund the Arc program, in addition to providing development advice and support.
