Problem addressed
Many women in contact with the criminal justice system have complex needs due to factors such as poverty and substance misuse. When being released from prison, a major issue is the lack of safe and secure housing – women may not have accommodation, or a return to their former home may put them at risk. The lack of secure housing represents a significant barrier to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. In addition, it creates complications in respect of family reunification, securing employment and accessing mental health services, as well as increasing the risk of reoffending and returning to substance abuse. There is an acute need for programmes assisting these women in their transition from prison to living independently in the community.
Innovative solution
Tús Nua (New Start) offers direct support to women released from prison and fills the gap left by the limited public housing capacity and the lack of comprehensive targeted social programmes. The project is innovative because it considers the complex and diverse needs of the participants and provides highly tailored programmes. The support is not limited to safe housing, but takes a holistic approach to providing these women with appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration services.
For a small allowance, Tús Nua provides accommodation and services at its facility in Ireland, which accommodates up to 15 people in single rooms. Each room is furnished and contains a kitchenette. All residents have access to communal spaces, including a garden.
The project is based on a system of key workers, who assist participants to identify and implement a support plan for their stay at the facility, which can last for up to six months after their release from prison. These plans set short-term and long-term goals and help women to engage in activities to gain new and rebuild old skills. Activities include participating in structured programmes such as education/employment schemes, counselling, family reunification and stabilisation projects. Beneficiaries also participate in activities to develop life skills, such as budgeting, preparing communal meals, working as a team to clean and maintain the facility, and gardening. As many of the women deal with addiction issues, Tús Nua works to support them in a non-judgmental way and provides access to addiction counselling. In this safe and secure environment, the participants learn how to move towards their personal goals and live independently upon leaving the facility. Tús Nua also offers help after the end of the programme and links each woman with resources to access after leaving the facility.
The project is run by Depaul, a charity helping those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It is co-funded by the Irish Government and the ESF as part of the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.
The project has close relationships with the Probation Service and the Dóchas Centre (part of Mountjoy Prison), which provides referrals for possible participants.
The Tús Nua facility is located in the Dublin area. Its organisation includes a project group manager, deputy manager and a staff of project workers and night support workers. These workers collaborate closely with the women prior to their release, when leaving prison and joining the programme, during its implementation, and after they have left the facility. Project workers maintain contact with prison and probation services, and work with external agencies to develop and carry out support plans on education, employment, health, well-being, and substance abuse recovery. At the facility, staff are assisted by volunteers, who provide key support for the activities on site.
Key results and benefits
The project began in 2003. The last formal evaluation was in 2013, when Depaul published the 2013 annual review on Tús Nua activities and the project celebrated 10 years of operation. As indicated in the review, the support provided by Tús Nua to women offenders through non-custodial and community-based support service was acknowledged in Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Position Paper 10 ‘Women in the Criminal Justice System: towards a non-custodial approach’. The expertise developed during the implementation of the programme was also recognised by Tús Nua's partners in the probation service and in the Dóchas Centre.
28 women availed of Tús Nua services in 2020.
The 2013 annual review indicated that for many women, Tús Nua represents their first experience of stability in their adult lives, outside the prison setting.
According to Tús Nua representatives, beneficiaries of the service report that the support and care they receive from staff helped them to overcome their challenges. One participant reported finding part-time work while staying at the facility, allowing her to become more self-reliant and better able to reintegrate into the community.
‘I received great support and help from all the staff here. I have a little apartment at the back, which is more than adequate. I have also managed to acquire a part-time job since I’ve been here and hopefully it will proceed for the near future. I hope to get an accommodation back down the country and get my life back on track again’ (participant)
Potential for mainstreaming
Tús Nua is particularly innovative and successful because of its comprehensive approach to developing programmes to support women’s complex needs on release from prison. This type of approach could be transferred to other settings and to other target groups requiring different assistance. It could also be used in other Member States facing a lack of secure housing and rehabilitation programmes for vulnerable people. Given the need to provide a healthy and stable environment to participants, long-term housing solutions are needed, including post-programme housing. This would be a key condition to transfer the project to other settings, together with developing good relationships with other agencies involved with participants' rehabilitation. If participants are to reintegrate into the community in a sustainable way, developing relationships with the local community (including receiving help from volunteers) is crucial. Similarly, encouraging engagement in education is important to increase employability and opportunities for acceptance.
