Breaking the Cycle: How Supported Accommodation in Cardiff Can Stop Costly Prison Recalls
Every year, thousands of people in England and Wales are recalled to prison — not because they’ve committed a new crime, but because they have nowhere to live. For those leaving custody, the lack of suitable accommodation is one of the biggest barriers to rebuilding their lives. At Homeless Evolution, we see the devastating consequences of this every day — and we’re working to change it.
💸 The Real Cost of Prison Recalls
The financial burden of recalling individuals to custody is staggering:
- Average annual cost of a prison place: £44,640 (as of September 2024), with some institutions costing over £53,000 per person per year in 2025.
- Total cost of recalls: Over 13,500 people in England and Wales were in prison on recall as of March 2025.
- The Howard League for Penal Reform estimated the annual cost of recall prison beds at over £230 million — and that figure is still rising.
- Reoffending costs: Recidivism costs the UK an estimated £18.1 billion each year, driven in part by unstable housing and repeated short-term prison recalls.
When individuals are recalled for minor licence breaches — such as missing an appointment or not having an approved address — the cost to the public purse is enormous. Yet these short 14- or 28-day returns to custody do little to support rehabilitation. Instead, they often cause people to lose jobs, housing, and stability, fuelling a “revolving door” of homelessness, recall, and re-offending.
🧍♂️ The Human Cost Behind the Numbers
Beyond the financial burden lies the human impact. Many recalls stem from housing insecurity, not criminal intent. Imagine being released from prison, ready to rebuild, but having nowhere safe to go. The stress, uncertainty, and stigma of homelessness make it almost impossible to comply with strict licence conditions.
The instability of repeated recalls disrupts:
- 🔹 Rehabilitation efforts, undoing progress made in custody
- 🔹 Family and community relationships, increasing isolation
- 🔹 Access to employment and healthcare, leaving people trapped in a cycle of dependency
This revolving door doesn’t just harm the individual — it places significant strain on probation services, local councils, police forces, and third-sector organisations who must pick up the pieces.
💚 A Smarter Solution: Homeless Evolution’s Supported Accommodation in Cardiff
At Homeless Evolution, we’re proving that there’s a better, more humane, and cost-effective way forward.
Our supported accommodation scheme in Cardiff provides:
✅ Safe and stable housing for people at risk of homelessness, including those leaving prison
✅ Tailored support plans addressing mental health, addiction, and reintegration
✅ Practical life skills and guidance to help residents maintain tenancy and comply with licence conditions
✅ Close collaboration with probation services and local authorities to prevent recalls and reduce re-offending
Every placement in supported housing saves thousands of pounds in public money and offers something even more valuable — hope.
A single supported accommodation placement in Cardiff costs a fraction of the £44,000+ annual cost of imprisonment, yet the outcomes are profoundly different:
✔️ Fewer recalls
✔️ Lower re-offending rates
✔️ Improved mental health and stability
✔️ Stronger community reintegration
🚫 Can Prisoners Be Released Homeless?
Legally, prisoners should not be released without a suitable address — but in practice, this happens far too often. Limited housing options, rising rents, and pressure on local authorities leave many people discharged into temporary or street homelessness. This increases the risk of recall and re-offending, creating an endless loop of instability and expense.
That’s where Homeless Evolution steps in — providing real homes and real support for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks of the system.
🌍 Breaking the Cycle in Cardiff
We believe housing is the foundation for rehabilitation. Without it, recovery and reintegration are almost impossible.
Homeless Evolution is leading the way in Cardiff with a model of supported accommodation that keeps people out of prison, off the streets, and on the path to independence.
By investing in supported housing and wraparound care, Cardiff can reduce both the human and financial costs of homelessness and recall — creating safer communities and more sustainable futures.
📣 Join the Conversation
It’s time to rethink how we manage recall, homelessness, and rehabilitation.
💬 Do you think housing should be a legal right for everyone leaving prison?
💬 Should minor licence breaches ever lead to recall when stable housing could prevent them?
👉 Share your thoughts below and help spread the message.
Together, we can ensure that no one in Cardiff is sent back to prison simply for having nowhere to live. 💚
Homeless Evolution: Empowering Lives, Building Homes Across Cardiff 