The National Network welcomes Frances Nelson KC’s recent comments highlighting the severe impact the housing crisis is having on parole-eligible prisoners who remain incarcerated due to a lack of housing. However, this issue is not new. The intersection of housing instability and criminalisation has long affected people in prison, particularly women. For many, survival offences—crimes committed to endure poverty and homelessness—are at the root of their criminalisation.
‘While there are a few housing options, many are designed for men or developed in such a way that women cannot bring their children with them – leaving women exiting prison without viable options. Women face the impossible choice of either living without their children or remaining incarcerated,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘Additionally, homeless shelters for women often will not accept women on home detention release or other community based orders, which adds another layer of exclusion,’ said Tabitha Lean.
The housing crisis disproportionately impacts women with criminal records who face increased difficulty in securing private rentals. Beyond the market itself, correctional services and the parole process contribute to these barriers. ‘The parole board and Department of Corrections take excessive time approving potential homes for parole or home detention release, causing many women to miss out on properties they have secured. The process of having properties inspected and approved by authorities is both time consuming and deters landlords and real estate agents from offering rentals to formerly incarcerated women,’ said Tabitha Lean. ‘This is not just an economic and political issue, this is structural and systemic,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘The National Network call on Frances Nelson and the Parole Board of South Australia to stop deflecting blame solely onto the housing crisis and instead take accountability for the systemic barriers within their own processes. The parole board’s punitive and dehumanising approach, particularly towards women, is a significant part of the problem. The unnecessarily harsh and drawn-out parole process, compounded by the housing crisis, is unjustly extending women’s imprisonment. It’s not enough to point fingers at external factors when the board’s own procedures are also directly contributing to these delays,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
Furthermore, it is crucial that the government, alongside the Parole Board, recognises that stable housing is a right, not a privilege, and is essential to reducing criminalisation. ‘The National Network urge the government to work directly with our Network, which represents criminalised women and girls, to develop housing solutions that are sustainable, safe, affordable, and tailored to the specific needs of women. This should include public housing options where women can live with their children, access necessary services, and rebuild their lives,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘The cost to taxpayers of keeping someone in prison exceeds $100,000 a year. This money could be better invested in securing housing solutions that give women a chance at living a happy and productive life with their families in their community. Women eligible for release should not be trapped in prison for months or even years simply because they have nowhere to go,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘It is time to move beyond the reactive measures currently in place and create lasting solutions that address both the housing crisis and the structural injustices criminalised women face,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226