There are many reasons why you may not be able to return to your home after leaving prison.

Failing to keep up with the rent or the mortgage, relationship breakdowns and various disputes are  common reasons that prevent prisoners from returning to their original homes.

If you do not have a family or home to go to upon release, you will need to find alternative accommodation. The sooner you start making arrangements, the better.

The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

If you have to find a new home upon release, you may want to consider different housing options, such as:

• private renting,
• social housing, i.e. Housing Executive or housing association tenancies,
• presenting as homeless, or
• going into temporary accommodation.

Although private renting seems to be the most available type of housing for prisoners and ex-offenders, you will need to be able to pay for a deposit and rent in advance before you start your tenancy.

This may not always be possible, especially if you are unable to find employment immediately after release. Some assistance with initial costs of renting may be available through rent deposit schemes and some voluntary organisations.

Social housing is usually less expensive, but can be difficult to obtain due to large waiting lists. If you apply to the Housing Executive for housing or present as homeless, you may have to wait considerable time to be offered permanent accommodation. You should apply to the Housing Executive as early as possible if you want to get on the social housing list.

Do not hesitate to ask for additional support in liaising with Housing Executive from your resettlement officer or a prison housing adviser. If you are a family member or a friend of someone who is in prison, contact Housing Rights Service or other advice organisation for support.

Getting appropriate advice is crucial if you have no place to go to when you are discharged.

Settling back into the community is not always easy. However, having a safe and settled place to go to after release can ease this transition and give you a helpful boost when job hunting, claiming benefits, receiving health care and accessing other services.