The Reintegration Housing Support Program (RHSP) aims to connect people who are leaving custody, or who have been released in the last month, and are at risk of homelessness with specialist support workers who will assist with securing access to suitable accommodation, as well as wrap around psychosocial support, including but not limited to:
- connection with Community Corrections (parole and probation) and Centrelink
- alcohol or drug support
- physical and mental health services
- help obtaining identification, connecting with friends and/or family in the community
- obtaining emergency items such as clothing, mobile phones and transportation.
CRC support workers have been based in six DCJ Housing Offices to work alongside DCJ Housing staff to assist program participants to secure and sustain long-term housing once they leave custody.
Support workers will begin working with program participants prior to their release. Once released, participants will receive case-management support in the post-release period for approximately six to twelve months.
While there is no specific housing stock allocated to this program, and acceptance onto the program is not a guarantee of access to permanent housing, the program will aim to connect clients to existing housing support products and provide wrap-around case management support to help clients sustain their housing.
The RHSP is operating in six locations across NSW, with two CRC support workers based in each of the following DCJ Housing offices:
Inner Sydney
-
- (Strawberry Hills)
Western Sydney
-
- (Mt Druitt)
South Western Sydney
-
- (Liverpool)
Western NSW
-
- (Dubbo)
Illawarra
-
- (Coniston)
Hunter (Newcastle)
The program is open to people who are likely to need housing support to avoid homelessness when they are released from custody, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or the Correctional Centre where they are being held. Program participants must be seeking housing support in one of the six DCJ Districts where the program operates to participate in the program.
RHSP participants will still be eligible to participate in other housing and homelessness support programs including Set to Go and the Inmate Early Assessment Scheme.
Referral Process
Referrals received two to three months prior to release are preferred, however, we understand that this is not always possible particularly for people on remand who may be released at short notice, so DCJ Housing will consider all pre-release referrals. DCJ Housing will determine whether referrals are suitable to be enrolled in the RHSP.
Filling in the referral form with as much information as possible will assist CRC and DCJ Housing staff with intake processes.
Referral forms for people in custody can be accessed here.
Completed forms should then be emailed to: ReintegrationHousingSupportProgram@facs.nsw.gov.au
You will receive a confirmation email that your referral is being considered. Please ensure you note in the subject line of the email the client’s name and which of the six DCJ Housing offices is closest to where the client needs housing support.
People in prison who would like to be referred to the service should contact relevant staff in their Correctional Centre (this might be a SAPO, a Parole Officer or a case manager). People in prison can also self-refer by writing to CRC directly – address details are on our contact us page. People in the community who have been released from prison in the last month can contact one of the six DCJ Housing offices closest to where housing support is required.
Please contact CRC directly on (02) 9288 8700 or through our contact us page if you need more information.
