18.2. The Norfolk Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the civilian community and the armed forces community in Norfolk, formalising a commitment to treating service members, veterans, and their families with fairness and respect and to ensuring they do not face disadvantage when accessing services. Norwich City Council has signed the pledge, implementing specific measures such as housing priority, employment support, and healthcare accreditation to benefit the armed forces community.
19.1. Since 2021, Norwich has had an ex-offender adviser funded by the Accommodation for Ex Offenders project (AFEO). This adviser helps prevent homelessness by finding private rented housing for ex-offenders.
19.2. The adviser also acts as the primary point of contact for referrals and has cultivated strong working relationships with key institutions, including HMP Norwich and Probation services. These relationships are essential for identifying individuals at risk of homelessness early and facilitating smoother transitions from custody to community life. Despite these successes, finding housing is becoming increasingly challenging.
19.3. In years 2024-2025, the council received 236 referrals for ex-offenders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days. The housing teams accepted 150 prevention and relief duties. However, the remaining ex-offenders either failed to present themselves for support upon release from custody or when they became homeless, illustrating the challenges in reaching these vulnerable individuals. This has led to an increase in the number of ex-