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Hundreds of people are left to face homelessness after being released from HM Prison Leeds.

At least 429 people were homeless when they were released from the category B men's prison between 2015 and 2018, and 42 were known to be sleeping rough as soon as they were released.

However, the number of men released into homelessness could actually be much higher, as the Ministry of Justice has recorded the living arrangements of just over 1,000 former inmates as 'unknown'.

The figures, uncovered by a Freedom of Information request, also show that 471 people have been released into 'unsettled' short-term accommodation, such as homeless hostels, since 2015.

Some ex-prisoners re-offend to return to prison and avoid homelessness, and research conducted by the World Prison Brief has found that providing prisoners with stable accommodation can reduce re-offending by 20 per cent.

What were HM Prison Leeds inmates released into between 2015 and 2018? MoJ

Last year, LeedsLive spoke to a man struggling with mental illness and drug dependency who had resorted to living on Armley Gyratory after finishing his sentence at the prison in Armley.

"I'd rather be back in prison," he said, "You've got everything there. You know where you are.

"You're working, you're eating, you've got a roof over your head. Everything's there for you.

"When I was in prison I was eating three meals a day, but before the half a sandwich I had yesterday I went three or four days with nothing to eat."

"Hopefully I'll be all right before I get locked up again," he added. "I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm not bothered by it. I know where I am in there."

But this is not just an issue in Leeds, as one in four short-sentenced prisoners are released homeless or left to sleep rough in the UK.

According to research conducted by the charity Revolving Doors there are now around 1,000 prisoners released into homeless or rough sleeping every month.

Prison minister Rory Stewart is currently considering plans to scrap jail sentences of six months or less. He told The Daily Telegraph they were 'long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you'.

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