A homelessness charity has been awarded £45,000 by Croydon Council to provide housing support to people coming out of prison.

Figures released last year by the Ministry of Justice revealed one in eight prisoners are released onto the streets to sleep rough.

Evolve will use the funding to employ a member of staff to work with organisations across the community and prison system to identify people at risk of rough sleeping, help them find accommodation and avoid housing crisis on release.

Debra Ives, Director of Operations at Evolve, said: “We are really pleased to be able to deliver this service in Croydon, it is much needed and will have an impact on the number of people who are able to go on to lead settled lives and avoid homelessness or reoffending.”

The £45,000 funding is part of a £622,000 grant given to Croydon Council’s Gateway service by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to offer vulnerable homeless people a bed, wraparound support and help into settled, permanent accommodation through a 24-hour, 365-day hub opening this winter.

Councillor Alison Butler, Croydon Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and Gateway services, said: “The council’s Gateway service already works closely with partners such as Evolve to not just tackle homelessness but also prevent it.

"Last year alone our outreach services helped 70 rough sleepers with a history of being in prison, so this £45,000 funding will allow Evolve to give vulnerable prison leavers more support and from an earlier stage.”

As a leading provider of accommodation for homeless people in London, Evolve houses over 2000 people every year, delivering bespoke one to one support to help people who would otherwise be homeless.

The charity helps its beneficiaries to rebuild their lives and give them the skills they need to be able to move on from its services and live independently