PRISON inmates re-entering the community are set to receive a major boost in support.
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A new program will see five times as many offenders supported on their release, with services expanding from Sydney, the Hunter and Lismore to 14 locations around the state, including the South Coast.
As part of an $8.39 million support package over three years, St Vincent de Paul Nowra will support former inmates through providing transitional supported accommodation.
A further $2.05 million has been secured over three years for centres, including the South Coast Correctional Centre, to provide family and children support to maintain and strengthen relationships between inmates and their families.
In NSW an offender is 2.5 times more likely to return to prison in the first three months of release compared to nine-12 months down the track.
The system replaces the former Community Funding Program and will support almost 700 offenders per year, up from about 135.