It would be no understatement to say that offenders and returning prisoners experience difficulties in gaining housing. Until recently: Many housing providers were reluctant to accommodate offenders. Prisons, whilst having begun to address resettlement activities have largely focussed their attention on security. The Probation Service has been reliant on the voluntary sector for offender housing through the Probation Accommodation Grant Scheme. The last two years have seen major changes in the law and policy towards offenders with further changes to come The Homelessness Act has identified vulnerable returning prisoners as a priority homeless category. Supporting People views offenders as a priority group. The Prison Service is focussing more on resettlement with an Accommodation Performance Indicator implemented. Many local authority homelessness services realise that they could be facing increasing numbers of homeless prisoners 'on their doorsteps'. In short, the environment has dramatically changed towards needing a common approach to planning for the housing of prisoners.