MORE than £200,000 will be spent stopping ex-offenders becoming homeless on their release from prison.

The Government’s Single Homeless Fund has given Oxfordshire councils £227,362 to improve housing opportunities for single people newly released from jail. The moneyh will be spent on two Probation Service workers who will establish direct links to housing providers, councils, support services and Thames Valley Police.

The aim is to help improve existing services, so ex-offenders can explore housing options more quickly, aiming to stop them from becoming homeless.

Cherwell district councillor Debbie Pickford said: “Often it is very difficult for offenders to integrate back into society as they face the challenges of finding suitable accommodation and a job to sustain it. For those without the backing of family and friends, this becomes even harder and can lead to them becoming homeless and potentially reoffending.

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“It is important that all the relevant authorities work together to provide the best possible support.”

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