The proven reoffending rate in the UK is between 23.1% to 25.5%. This is due to several factors but the most prominent one remains unstable housing and lack of social support.
Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3)
A Way Out
The Housing Network is aware of this and in line with our purpose to provide ‘more than a roof’ we believe every individual needs a safe and stable place to rebuild when life gets tough and so we are working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, working in consultation with the Police, Local Authorities and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to deliver the CAS-3 Tier programme.
This is a ground breaking service offering Prison leavers temporary accommodation and support for up to 84 nights, providing accommodation together with assistance from the first night of release. Our aim is to ensure that no one leaves prison without the offer of a place to live and to provide a pathway to settled accommodation.
How it Works
We currently operate in five regions across the UK, making the CAS 3 Tier programme available in the East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands, South Central and South West. Each region has an equal amount of self contained and shared accommodation units.
In line with our mission to provide Better Accommodation, each unit is furnished to a serviceable standard, with communal living spaces, kitchens and bathrooms and a welcome pack of basic food essentials and toiletries.
We also offer the support they need to move on to an independent, crime-free future with our support officers making weekly visits to provide mandatory support, and to make sure residents are adhering to bail conditions and any licence requirements.
Who is Eligible?
The scheme is open to adult prison leavers of all genders who are aged 18 or over and who are:
• At risk of being released as homeless from prison following a custodial sentence to be supervised by the Probation Service.
• moving on as homeless from an Approved Premises(CAS1).
• moving on as homeless following a period at a CAS2 residence.
And who have;
• given consent to be referred into the service; and
• signed an Accommodation Compact
Our Focus Areas
To ensure the best possible outcomes for residents, it incorporates 10 focus areas:
- Managing Tenancy / Accommodation
- Self-Care & Living Skills
- Managing Money & Administration (e.g. Benefits)
- Relationships & Social Needs
- Drug & Alcohol Use
- Physical Health & Wellbeing
- Emotional & Mental Health
- Activities (e.g. Participating in the Community)
- Living within the Law
- Dreams & Aspirations (e.g. Training / Employment)
In all cases, our specialist teams use a strength-based approach to help each resident advance to the ‘Opportunity Zone’, where their level of independence is greater than their need for support, ultimately reducing the demand on the social care system.
Who is Eligible?
To ensure maximum success, we offer our residents a chance to get involved through the ‘More than a Voice’ platform. We’re not just about providing services, we are about giving our residents the best in line with our mission.
To fully achieve this, it is important that our residents have a platform to express themselves, provide feedback and tell us what it’s like to ‘live within’ the service we deliver; in turn, we can listen, understand and learn. In line with our wider support approach, all aspects of More than a Voice activity and engagement are trauma-informed and strength based, to support positive outcomes.
“The flat is absolutely beautiful and neither of us could believe it.”
Resident
“Thanks to CAS3 program and the kindness of my supported housing officer, Felicity, I’ve started my own tattoo studio and moved in with my partner- many thanks again”
John
South East
“You gave me the push I needed, so just gonna crack on and get my head straight now- thank you”
MOJ Resident
Essex
