GovWire

Stable accommodation is one of the key drivers in reducing reoffending. Commissioned as part of the governments wider Rough Sleeping Strategy (August 2018), the Offender Accommodation Pilot (OAP) was a joint MOJ/DLUHC initiative. DLUHC provided the funding for this pilot which aimed to test the benefits of providing accommodation and wrap around support for up to 2 years.

The pilot began in August 2019, enrolling offenders up until July 2020 and concluded in July 2022. It offered 2 years of stable accommodation for adult males released from prison on sentences of less than 36 months, alongside tailored wraparound support.

The pilot was conducted in three resettlement prisons: HMP Bristol, HMP Leeds and HMP Pentonville. The MOJ and DLUHC commissioned a mixed-method evaluation of the OAP to understand implementation and impact. This publication reports the process evaluation findings to understand implementation and perceptions/experiences of those involved. The impact evaluation is expected to be available in early 2024.