The Community
Transition Service
A trauma-informed, shared accommodation project for women leaving prison in Belfast who have complex psychosocial needs, delivered by Depaul Northern Ireland.
Why is the project needed?
Women leaving prison face significant challenges in securing safe accommodation, despite strong evidence linking homelessness upon release to higher reoffending rates. Those leaving prison without settled accommodation are twice as likely to commit further crimes than those with stable housing.
Female ex-offenders encounter unique vulnerabilities that are often more complex and gender-specific, typically stemming from different pathways into offending, social roles and the lasting effects of trauma.
A lack of suitable housing means that the only options available to vulnerable women are often mixed-gender hostels or unsafe environments that can trigger relapse, exploitation, reoffending or further trauma. Specifically, in Northern Ireland, there is an absence of tailored support and appropriate secure accommodation for women, resulting in poorer outcomes.
The Housing Solution
The project provides an inclusive ‘Community Transition Service’ for women, including trans women, with complex psychosocial needs such as addiction and mental-ill health, who face homelessness upon release from custody in Belfast.
By adopting a Housing First approach, the project aims to address the unique vulnerabilities women face and break cycles of reoffending. Alongside safe housing, women will receive trauma-informed support to foster their smooth transition back into the community. This includes the aforementioned mental health and addiction support, along with helping facilitate family reunification, personal development and life skills.
Depaul’s support staff will collaborate with prison and probation staff to provide through-the-gate assistance for women at risk of homelessness. Women are then expected to stay with the project for 6 to 12 months, during which they will have access to 24/7 at-home support. As part of the model, women can access follow-up community support measures to assist with long-term resettlement.
The project was unlocked through £1.1m of social investment, sourced by Commonweal from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to purchase seven two-bed properties around Belfast to support 14 women.
"Our Housing First approach offers women immediate access to safe, accommodation without preconditions. It acknowledges that housing is not a reward for recovery, but a foundation for it. When adapted to meet the specific needs of women, Housing First not only improves individual outcomes, but also contributes to systemic savings in the justice, health and housing sectors.”
Deirdre Canavan, Senior Services Manager at Depaul NI
In parternhip with:
Key Statistics
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In 2024/25, the number of women entering prison in Northern Ireland increased by 19.5%, rising to 472 compared to 395 the previous year.
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An unannounced inspection of Hydebank Wood Women’s Prison (Northern Ireland's only women's prison) in May 2024 found that around half of women released after serving 14 days or more did not have accommodation confirmed on the day of release.
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Violence against the person (including domestic abuse) accounted for 30.5% of females on remand in Northern Ireland in 2024/25.
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Over half (53%) of women in prison in England and Wales experience emotional, physical or sexual abuse before the age of 16, compared to 27% of imprisoned men.
Project progress
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The first women moved into the project in May 2026. We anticipate that the final cluster of properties will be purchased shortly, with full project occupancy by the end of the year.
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We are in the early stages of appointing independent evaluators to assess the project's impact on service users. Further details will be shared in due course.
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