Supported accommodation services provides housing and other help for high risk and/or high profile offenders with high-level reintegrative needs to help ease their transition back into the community.
Most users are referred before they leave prison; others may already be in the community but have similar needs.
Corrections has contracted with providers in several locations around the country to provide accommodation and other reintegrative support services.
Supported accommodation services target offenders who:
Probation officers in Community Probation & Psychological Services and reintegration case workers in prisons can refer eligible offenders to a service provider for assessment.
This usually happens during the pre-release process before a prisoner is released.
Probation officers can also refer offenders who are on parole if their accommodation becomes unavailable, the offender is considered high risk and has a number of other high level reintegrative needs.
The NZ Parole Board cannot make direct approvals but it can approve supported accommodation addresses for parolees.
Offenders are provided with temporary accommodation for up to three months, during which time they find permanent accommodation to move to. They then have access to support for their reintegrative needs for a further three months.
Offenders using the service are encouraged to increase their level of self-reliance and to develop and practice pro-social behaviour. They’re also helped to find their own long-term accommodation.
Offenders participating in the supported accommodation service also get help with money management, housekeeping, literacy and numeracy, finding work or training, forming positive links with the community, and support to comply with their community-based sentence or order.
Supported accommodation services currently operating are set out below. Together they offer 56 beds.
Auckland
Auckland Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Society (PARS)
Rachel Ngaitai
racheln@prisonersaid.org.nz
T: (09) 630 0862
F: (09) 630 0328
Hamilton
Anglican Action
Ani Connor-Simon
ani@anglican.org.nz
T: 07 856 5820
Napier
Hawke’s Bay PARS
Clem Thomson
clem.thomson@hbpars.org.nz
T: 06 878 5430
F: 06 878 5685
Wellington
Salvation Army
Greg Hutson
Greg_Hutson@nzf.salvationarmy.org
T: 04 529 7701
F: 04 527 6900
M: 027 277 3777
Christchurch
Salvation Army
Glen Buckner
Glen_Buckner@nzf.salvationarmy.org
T: 03 338 5154 Ext 836
F: 03 338 4390
M: 027 451 9424
Dunedin
Otago PARS
Ali Holmes
Accom.pars@xtra.co.nz
T: (03) 474 1811
F: (03) 474 1947
M: 027 4315 214