Criminal Justice

Each year we work with around 7,500 prisoners and ex-offenders, helping them to make real and positive change in their lives.

Criminal Justice

Each year we work with around 7,500 prisoners and ex-offenders, helping them to make real and positive change in their lives.

Going to prison can cause the loss of a home, possessions, job and relationship with family and friends.

London Housing Advice and Interventions Service (LHAIS)

LHAIS provides tailored housing support to People on Probation and People in Prison. We ensure a smooth transition in housing support as individuals move from custody back into the community.

The service is delivered in partnership by St Mungo’s and Single Homeless Project (SHP):

St Mungo’s works with individuals in all male prisons who will be reporting to London Probation and in select Probation Delivery Units (PDUs).
Single Homeless Project supports people on probation in the community across the rest of London.

Housing Advice Workers (HAWks)

Our Housing Advice Workers (HAWks) provide:

Assessments of housing needs and pathways.
Support to access suitable housing options.
Advocacy to help maintain existing tenancies and prevent homelessness.
Help with income maximisation and reducing housing-related debt.
Advice to Probation Practitioners and signposting to other local services.

If a person in prison or on probation is returning to London or has a local connection and no accommodation on release, we can support them to find a place to live.

If they already have a tenancy, we will work to help them retain it wherever possible.

As part of this service, we also have 3 staging posts which only people on probation can be referred to by the HAWks.

How to Refer

Referrals must be made by Probation staff only.

Please note: We cannot accept referrals through any other route.

HARP Connect

HARP Connect is a pan London floating support service funded by London Councils.

This service supports people on probation who are low/medium risk of harm. This services offers through the gate support from HMP Wandsworth, Wormwood Scrubs, Pentonville and Thameside when needed.

HARP Connect offers holistic support to include:

Housing advice
Resettlement
Tenancy sustainment
Support to access mental health services
Support to access employment services
Support to apply for grants and ID when needed

Referral criteria:

Anyone can make a referral but risk information will need to be provided before referrals can be accepted.

Over 25
Single people with no dependants that needs to be housed with them
London Connection
Low/medium risk of harm

All referrals to be sent to harpconnect@stmungosofs.cjsm.net

More about the service

London Housing Advice and Interventions Service
Housing Advice Workers
HARP Connect
Related content

Resources

"A prison can be an intimidating place to work but after a while you realise a few things; you need to be able to listen, be patient and be completely honest with people. And when you can help, it feels like you have done a good thing, however small."

Sophie, Housing Support Volunteer

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

London Housing Advice and Interventions Service (LHAIS)

Housing Advice Workers (HAWks)

HARP Connect

Resources

Related content

Breaking the cycle: Volunteering in our prison service

Resource Library