Key facts
- Nearly one in six prisoners released in England and Wales last year were homeless, the highest rate in five years.
- 15,155 individuals were released without housing between April 2025 and March 2026, an 18% increase from the previous year.
- The proportion of homeless prison leavers has risen annually for five years, reaching 15.9% in the latest period.
- South-central England has the highest rate of homeless prison leavers at 20.7%.
- A charity warns that this trend jeopardizes Prime Minister Andy Burnham's pledge to end rough sleeping.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's commitment to ending rough sleeping is reportedly at risk due to a significant increase in prisoners being released without accommodation. A new analysis by the charity Nacro reveals that nearly one in six individuals leaving prison in England and Wales last year were homeless, marking the highest rate in five years.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, 15,155 people were released from prison without housing, equating to approximately 300 individuals weekly. This figure represents an 18% increase compared to the previous year. Nacro's data shows a consistent upward trend in prison leavers released into homelessness over the past five years, rising from 10.6% in 2021-22 to 15.9% in the current period.
Burnham's initial pledge to eradicate rough sleeping included an allocation of an additional £340 million over three years. However, the situation has been complicated by early release schemes for around 5,000 prisoners, including individuals convicted of domestic abuse and manslaughter.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of Nacro, emphasized the urgent need to address homelessness among prison leavers to fulfill the Prime Minister's pledge. He highlighted that three-quarters of individuals released to rough sleeping reoffend within a year, compared to just over a third of those with stable accommodation. Solomon stressed that a safe home is crucial for reducing reoffending and enhancing community safety.
Prisons and probation services are mandated to refer offenders at risk of homelessness to local authorities. Despite a general rise in the number of people released from prison, the proportion experiencing homelessness has outpaced this increase. In 2021-22, 10.6% of prison leavers were homeless, a figure that has steadily climbed to 13.2% in 2023-24 and now 14.9% in 2024-25, culminating in 15.9% this year.
More than 1,300 women were released homeless or to rough sleeping in 2025-26, a 27% increase from the prior year. Regional data indicates that south-central England has the highest rate at 20.7%, followed by the East Midlands (19.1%) and the East of England (18.4%). Wales reported the lowest percentage at 11.1%.
The prisons watchdog's annual report identified contributing factors, including up to 30% of prisoners lacking a settled address, release directly from court without services, and difficulties in housing planning due to short sentences and brief recalls. A December report also noted inadequate training for housing staff, fragmented support, and substandard accommodation.
Government sources confirmed they are reviewing options to prevent the early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, two of PC Andrew Harper's killers. Burnham recently excluded rapists, groomers, and those convicted of serious child sexual offenses from early release policies. The government has committed to halving the proportion of offenders on probation who become homeless upon release by 2029, supported by the £340 million investment.