Social justice charity Nacro, which runs services for people leaving prison, has called for more investment in local services to tackle the problem.
The Ministry of Justice said the government “inherited a prison system in crisis” and is working with partners to “avoid anyone being released on to the street”.
Ministry of Justice figures showed that between April 2023 and 2024, 940 prison leavers were released into homelessness in Yorkshire and the Humber.
In April 2024 to 2025, the number increased to 1,585 – a 69 per cent rise.
Nacro said the figure was the third largest spike in England and Wales, with more than four people a day in the region released into homelessness in the past year.
The charity said people who leave prison homeless are twice as likely to reoffend, compared to someone who has been released from custody into settled accommodation.
Campbell Robb, chief executive at Nacro, said the figures show that “further action is needed” from the government.
“Leaving prison without a home is the terrible consequence of a broken system,” he said.
“Last year in Yorkshire and The Humber, 1,585 people left prison homeless, making it incredibly difficult for them to move on in a positive way with their lives after prison.
“The need for a secure place to live will become even greater, as more people are likely to serve more of their sentences in the community under the proposed sentencing reforms.”
He added: “Long-term joined-up support and housing are essential if we want people to rebuild their lives and reduce reoffending.
“We will continue to work with government and all partners inside and outside of prison to do what we can to try and ensure people get the support they need on release.”
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The Ministry of Justice said in the year ending March 2025, 15 per cent of people released from prison were recorded as homeless or rough sleeping on the night following their release.
Prisoners at risk of becoming homeless can be offered up to 12 weeks of basic accommodation on release by the Prison and Probation Service with support to move to settled accommodation, according to the Ministry of Justice.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The new government inherited a prison system in crisis which put significant pressure on the whole justice system.
“Any offenders at risk of homelessness can be offered up to 12 weeks of accommodation, and all of our probation regions have Homelessness Prevention Teams working with partners – including local councils and charities – to avoid anyone being released on to the street.
“We have also increased the probation annual budget to £700 million by 2028/29 to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community, as well as expanding our community accommodation service for those at risk of homelessness.”
