To have my boy back is beyond words

“If it wasn’t for my worker I wouldn’t be with my family, I’d be back in jail. He went out of his way to help me.”

Over the past few years, we heard so many similar testimonials from participants about our staff who work at the Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility. This facility provides temporary accommodation and support to men leaving prison – men who would otherwise be homeless, a situation experienced by around half of all people exiting Victoria’s prisons. Perhaps unsurprisingly, insecure and unsafe housing contributes significantly to many people returning to custody shortly after release.

The facility supports up to 42 men at a time, and our staff first engage with them while they are still in custody. Our General Manager of Adult Justice Programs, Suzi James-Nevell, says this is key to relationship building and reducing reoffending.

“We set up a transition plan that involves listening to their personal goals and finding that inner motivation that will drive them to do well,” says Suzi.

“Then, together, we figure out a plan for how they can work towards those goals once they’ve left prison.”

Once residents are settled into the accommodation, our staff support them in a range of ways depending on their needs. This includes helping them to apply for a NDIS package, get their driver’s licence or construction ticket, connect with private rental housing and work opportunities, understand the conditions of intervention orders, or start visits with family members.

These support services can last anywhere between three to 12 months and have reduced reoffending.

“Access to a positive social network is critical to breaking the cycle of reoffending, poverty and disadvantage,” notes Suzi.

“Many individuals who enter the program experience broken relationships with their families and friends. This can leave them feeling isolated and without the necessary support to be proactive in rebuilding their lives.”

A resident’s mother reflected on the way our staff at the Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility helped to repair her relationship with her son:

This approach sets Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility apart from other housing and homelessness services that typically stop support as soon as housing is secured, neglecting the many other challenges individuals face after being involved in the justice system.

“What seems simple can be really daunting for people exiting custody,” says Suzi.

“Sometimes as a community, we can have low expectations for those leaving the justice system. In a way, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby people match those standards.

“When you’ve got someone who backs you, you step up and you live up to that. That’s what we are trying to do at Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility.”