People leaving prison face multiple challenges reintegrating into society and are at high risk of homelessness and poor mental and physical health.

In the first study of its kind, Professor Jim Lewsey and Dr Manuela Deidda with a team from the Universities of Glasgow, Cardiff, Heriot-Watt and Glyndwr will pilot a randomised trial to see whether a housing-led ‘critical time intervention’ (CTI) works in preventing homelessness and improving health in a population of male prison leavers.

 A housing – led CTI is an intervention which aims to provide support those most in need in society during times of important life changes, in addition to  quick housing provision.

The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will take place across four male prisons. The study has been designed in consultation with co-applicant Hannah Green, a Communications and Lived Experience Specialist from the Centre for Homelessness Impact. 

This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) will test if the CTI and the research methods are possible, acceptable and has good potential to provide value for money. In the longer term, if a future full-scale RCT finds housing-led critical time intervention (CTI) to be successful, the team would push for roll-out to prisons across the UK. 

Read more about the PHaCT Trial: Preventing Homelessness, improving health for people leaving prison: a pilot randomised controlled trial of a Critical Time intervention:  https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR134281

First published: 1 August 2022

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