Legal Services Agency (LSA) is a law centre and charity based in Scotland. They provide specialist legal advice and representation to people at risk of homelessness. With support from St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity’s Frontline Fund, LSA launched the Disrupting Cycles of Disadvantage: Early Intervention in Homelessness Project, which aims to bring housing advice directly into prisons. By helping people protect their tenancies, challenge eviction proceedings and better understand their rights, this innovative project aims to prevent homelessness on release and thereby disrupt the cycle of disadvantage.
The number of people entering prison with no fixed abode has increased from 2.9% in 2012-13, to 9.1% in 2022-23. This is why it was important that we funded LSA’s project, through our Frontline Fund. The three-year project sought to establish weekly outreach clinics in HMP Greenock and HMP Low Moss, providing specialist legal assistance on housing issues for those entering prison and those preparing for their release.
Over the course of the project, LSA worked with many individuals with varying needs, including Fred and Peter. The following anonymised stories highlight how timely legal support has made a difference for people leaving prison in Scotland.
Fred
Some of LSA’s clients, like Fred*, are unable to pay their rent whilst in prison, causing eviction proceedings to be raised.
Fred accessed LSA’s services whilst in prison and facing eviction by his landlord, a local authority. Given the length of his sentence, Fred’s Universal Credit payments stopped, and he accumulated rent arrears. Fred lived alone, and had no one on the outside who could help him with his arrears. He also had mental health issues.
LSA’s team met with Fred in prison and agreed to represent him. A decree for eviction had already been granted, so they submitted a minute for recall of decree which argued that it was unreasonable to evict Fred. LSA explained that he was due to be released soon and would reclaim Universal Credit and Adult Disability Payment to repay his arrears. Further, they explained that if Fred were to be evicted, he would be homeless. He would then need to apply to the local authority for accommodation as a homeless person, which they would be legally obligated to provide.
The decree for eviction was recalled and the case was continued. This meant that Fred avoided homelessness upon his release and had an opportunity to pay back his rent arrears.
Peter
LSA met Peter* during a clinic held at the prison he was detained in. He expressed concern about rent arrears owed to his social landlord accruing whilst in prison.
Peter had debts of over £10,000 due to the criminal proceedings against him and was also concerned about enforcement action by his creditors. He jointly owned a property with his ex-wife, who lived there with their child, and worried their home would be repossessed. He was unable to access debt advice whilst in prison.
LSA corresponded with Peter’s landlord and were able to reassure him that he would be afforded an opportunity to pay back his arrears on release. Regarding his debt, LSA’s team assisted Peter with the submission of a notice of a statutory moratorium, which meant that his creditors could not take any action for repayment against him for at least six months.
Upon release, Peter had a place to live and the opportunity to repay his debts through applying to Universal Credit, resuming work, and also applying to the Debt Arrangement Scheme. This hugely successful result helped prevent a cycle of re-offending and disadvantage for Peter.
Changing lives with early support
By helping individuals protect their housing, navigate complex systems and access the right support, LSA’s Disrupting Cycles of Disadvantage: Early Intervention in Homelessness Project reduces the risk of homelessness and gives people a real chance to rebuild their lives. Thanks to the Frontline Fund, this work reaches those at their most vulnerable, turning what could be a crisis into an opportunity for long-term stability.
*Names changed to protect identity