From behind bars to living in cars : the struggle of housing, post incarceration in Malta

Abstract

Research on ex-prisoners in Malta is very limited and therefore this minority is often discriminated against. From being denied employment to the unfair provision of social welfare benefits, ex-prisoners face a number of obstacles in their path to re-integration. Due to the lack of agencies which work with ex-prisoners, and therefore a lack of participants available to participate in the study, an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used. Through a detailed review of literature, a number of issues which former prisoners face during reintegration came out. These issues were highlighted in the literature review which are; the issues for housing from a social work and social policy perspective, the ex-prisoner’s racial background, the presence of tattoos, the educational level of the individual and whether they have employment upon release, all in relation to the ex-prisoners search for affordable housing. By using IPA, interview transcripts were broken down with the aim of pointing out key information which was later coded into a number of themes. The themes derived from the transcriptions were; money, personal, agencies, society, policy level and courts. Following an analysis of the transcripts of the two interviews, it was determined which services former prisoners can benefit from upon their release. Furthermore, through the interviews it was brought forward that there are available policies which ex-prisoners can benefit from; however, there are certain criteria which restrict former prisoners from fully benefitting. Upon release from prison, former inmates are entitled for the unemployment social assistance by which they receive a weekly allowance. If they are able to find employment within the first week after they receive their cheque, their unemployment benefit will be revoked, thus leaving them with roughly a €100 to buy food and pay rent until their wage comes in. Furthermore, former inmates are unable to benefit from the housing authority scheme by which the housing authority pays for half of the rent for accommodation due to a lack of funds upon release. In conclusion, there are some services which former prisoners may benefit from, unfortunately, they are deterred from doing so due to limitations. Furthermore, with some minor amendments to policy, such as a gradual revocation of monetary benefits instead of immediate, former inmates may have a much easier transition back into society.