Supported accommodation

Supported accommodation provides housing and other support to help people make positive changes in their lives as they return to the community from prison, or while serving a community-based sentence.

This kind of help can reduce the risk of reoffending, ultimately leading to safer communities.

There are a range of services available depending on the needs of the individual, including dedicated services for women, Māori, those with mental health needs, and returning offenders from overseas.

A person's case manager or their probation officer can refer them to a service if they are eligible.

Nature of support

The intensity and nature of the support depends on the needs of each offender, but includes:

• assessing the offender’s needs before they enter the accommodation,
• assisting the offender to meet the conditions of their sentence/order,
• enabling them to find employment and/or training to improve access to employment,
• support to develop basic living skills such as: personal finances, parenting, and home organisation,
• help to meet identified mental and physical health needs,
• support to reconnect with whānau,
• creating an environment for positive change so the offender can change behaviour patterns,
• supporting the offender to move into long-term sustainable housing.