Problem addressed
Once prisoners are released, they face a variety of risks, including income and housing uncertainty, broken relationships, debt and stigmatisation. They often look for cash-in-hand jobs and do not register as unemployed, hindering their access to medical care and other services. The main goal of the project is to facilitate ex-prisoners to access the labour market and prevent re-offending.
Innovative solution
The innovative aspect of the project is that for six months before leaving prison and for up to 12 months afterwards, ex-prisoners receive mentoring and housing services free of charge. The mentoring continues when they enter the labour market, supporting them in their decision-making.
The mentor and mentee agree on a ‘working alliance’, in order to reinforce trust and cooperation. They meet, on average, once per month during the six months in prison. Mentees are advised how to approach life outside prison, given links to other service providers and specialists based on their needs, and generally helped them to integrate into working life. Once they leave prison, their mentor will meet them, reinforcing their trust in the alliance and directing them towards the available support.
If ex-prisoners have nowhere to stay upon their release from prison, they can live in a housing community free of charge. There, they receive any additional support they need, such as debt advice, addiction support, relationship advice, health-related support, assistance for obtaining official documents, etc.
The project received EUR 4.1 million funding, 74% from the ESF and 26% from the Estonian Ministry of Justice. Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) provide mentoring services: the Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention and Social Rehabilitation (Balti Kriminaalpreventsiooni ja Sotsiaalse Rehabilitatsiooni Instituut) in the northern, eastern and western regions of Estonia, and the Johannes Mihkelsoni Centre in the southern region.
Four NGOs provide housing services: Lootuse küla in Kibuna, Laitse (northern region), Estonian Samaria Mission (Samaaria Eesti Misjon) in Pärnu and Haapsalu (western region), Uus Põlvkond in Jõhvi (eastern region), and Valge Eesti in Tartu (southern region). The Estonian Ministry of Justice coordinates with the NGOs to match people with the right mentor and the right housing environment once they leave prison.
The NGOs providing mentoring were chosen because of their work with ex-prisoners and their focus on social projects, job seeking, social counselling, and crime prevention. A total of 28 mentors are involved in the project, trained by the NGOs themselves.
The project currently provides 63 free accommodation places for ex-prisoners that have nowhere else to stay on their release. The four housing NGOs provide more places when necessary. The housing communities typically comprise ex-prisoners and addicts, who are experienced in countering the risk of recidivism. There are daily schedules of work for those without another job, as well as 12-step programme sessions. One worker from the housing NGO is always on-site for support. Female-only housing is also available.
Key results and benefits
The Estonian Ministry of Justice is responsible for evaluating project outcomes. It collaborated with the University of Tartu on a study comparing ex-prisoners who did/did not receive support.
The project aims to have 75% of ex-prisoners supported to enter the labour market (i.e. registered as jobseekers with the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund) and 30% on the workers register (i.e. currently working) within one month of leaving the service.
Data are collected through different national collection methods connected to people’s national ID. The Estonian Ministry of Justice can request access to the data for reporting purposes.
At the end of 2021, 67% of the individuals involved in the project had a job, 40% were registered as jobseekers or actively looking for a job, and 27% were working. Of the individuals who received free housing, 72% were registered as jobseekers, with 32% on the workers register. The project is having a positive impact on the rate of re-offending[1], which in 2021, which in 2021 was at its lowest (34%) compared to the last 7 years[2].
[1] The rate of re-offending is used here as a marker of the effects of the intervention.
[2] The rate of re-offending was 43% in 2019 and 45% in 2017.
Potential for mainstreaming
When ESF funding for the project ends in 2023, the service will continue with government funds.
A key success factor to replicate this project would be to find suitable housing providers. It is not always possible to find housing providers in each region and it is impractical for a government to build such infrastructure themselves. Housing NGOs must meet strict requirements to ensure adequate support, not only for ex-prisoners but also to address local communities’ concerns (e.g. prejudices about living close to ex-offenders, as well as risks of criminality).
