Homeless women leaving prison : an appraisal of the in-reach service providing assistance within an Irish prison
Authors
O'Connor, Mary
Issue Date
2014
Degree
BA (Hons) in Social Science
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
Many women in prison do not have a home to which they can return. To assist these women, the Department of Social Protection provides an in-reach service within the prison. This study aimed to appraise the effectiveness of the service. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with professionals who work with homeless women in the prison were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The themes led to findings which indicated the participants found the service to be very beneficial, as it met the needs of the women. However, it became apparent that while the service met the immediate needs of homeless women, their need for support and suitable accommodation was not being met in the community.