cooperation agreements between prisons and local authorities to reduce homelessness in norway -...
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Presentation given by Gro Månsson, Drammen Prison, Norway, at a FEANTSA seminar on "Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mind the policy gap! Local strategies to address the different faces of homelessness", hosted by the Committee of the Regions, June 2010TRANSCRIPT
Background
The project began on the 1st of March 2008
It will be concluded on the 30th of June 2010
The Norwegian State Housing Bank is financing theproject
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Primary goalTo develop methods to facilitate goodpractice in the cooperation betweenDrammen prison and the municipality to prevent homelessness among releasedprisoners, and to give released prisonersextended support so they might overcomepersonal problems and reducing the risk ofeviction
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Target groupInmates who start their execution from 1st of January2009 ‐ 31st of Desember 2009, and are:From the municipality of Drammen Convicts or inmates in custodyHomeless or have a temporary accomodation
For inmates having a place of residence, we have developed procedures to help them keeping theirhomes during their sentence
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Target group 1st of June 201018 Participants:14 exconvicted4 who were in custody
The average period of sentence in Drammen prison for these were:
90,8 days for convicts40,2days for those in custody
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Internal methodsDeveloping procedures as to who shouldundertake surveys of inmates, time for surveys and what the content of these should beChanged the organization of the contact officers
An overall result is greater focus oninterdiciplinary collaboration for informationexchange, coordination and quality assurance offollow‐up of prisoners within the prison
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Internal and external methodsDeveloping information materials, which may be used by staff and inmates with regards to rights and contact information
Municipal and spesialized health care service providers have held several courses for inmates, giving them valuable knowledge about issuesrelated to everyday challenges linked to keeping a place of residence
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Results when releasedOf a total of 18 participants, 15 participants werehomeless:
9 of these got sheltered housing3 participants were offered treatment in an institutionfor the drug addicted3 participants wanted to stay at their parents home3 participants already had a place of residence, kept it and moved out there after release
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Status a few months afterrelease
5 participants are still doing well in their homes3 participants are still in treatment institutions and have been offered municipal sheltered housing5 participants don`t want any help from publicagencies4 participants haven`t been in touch with publicagencies at all1 participant has moved to another municipality
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
ConclusionOur project shows thatEarly interveningCommitted relationship in which external actorshave the opportunity to work in prisonIncreased interdiciplinarity work helps to preventhomelessness.
But the most important factor is that the prisonersthemselves are motivated
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010
Thank youGro Solbakken Månsson, Drammen prison, Norway
Mail: [email protected]: 00 47 32 21 98 04
Homelessness in public and private spaces: Mindthe policy gap! Brussels, 4 June 2010