It has long been recognised that one of the key ways to reduce re-offending is to ensure that offenders have suitable and sustainable accommodation and this is the main aim of the project. Working across the county, with bases at Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft Probation offices, we identify the best possible accommodation for each person referred to the service dependent on their individual needs. We recognise that everyone has different circumstances and as such, different housing needs and aspirations. Our trained Accommodation Support Officers assess each case, working closely with the Service User to meet these needs as closely as possible.
SOAP Service Users can be referred to ACT from Probation Services, Integrated Offender Management teams, other Criminal Justice Agencies and through self-referral.
As well as sourcing accommodation, we assess the Service User’s holistic needs and signpost them onto other agencies and services which may well assist them. The aim of the holistic approach is to:
- Reduce homelessness and the cycle of homelessness.
- Enable offenders leaving prison, institutional care, approved premises and other similar situations to access suitable and sustainable accommodation.
- Reduce re-offending by achieving both of the above points
