To not pay towards her rent?

There is a massive shortage of social housing, there will be loads of people on the waiting list who would appreciate the flat. Don't let it sit empty for someone who has had loads of chances, if she couldn't get clean for her DCs, she won't get clean for you or the others paying her rent.

You can't help everybody, put that money towards your DCs futures or for something for yourself.

A very valid point. I've dealt with clients in my job who have bluntly told me it can be easier to get drugs in prison than outside.

She wants others to pay for an empty flat for 8 months despite the many chances she has been given? She chose drugs over her children (why people have kids in these scenarios is beyond me). She will choose drugs again and again.

I am sure she doesnt want to lose her flat but she made her choices.

Its a hard no from me. As another PP says - what if one of the four dont pay for 1 monht. She will coming running to ther others to pay. What a bloody mess

Dahliasdelight post nailed it.

There's no guarantee she'll be clean when she is released either as drugs in prisons are prolific.

I wouldn’t want to help. There is no guarantee that she’ll be clean when she is released, otoh, I’d worry that she was clean but was then homeless. It is a lot to ask of someone.
I can’t advise you as it is shit either way.

It's pointless you paying her rent unless she's definitely going to get clean in prison and stay clean. Otherwise she's in that circle of drugs - petty crime to pay for the drugs - prison - homelessness indefinitely. And as you yourself say, you don't think she has any serious intention of getting clean. So if she doesn't lose the flat now, she soon will.

She'll have to go to whatever her local homelessness charity is as soon as she gets out of prison and present to the council as homeless. This isn't your problem to solve (and realistically, you just can't).

At the risk of sounding horrible, she's rather limited her choices herself though hasn't she?

So I think you've absolutely answered it for yourself. I understand you want to help, but I think you've shown you know it may make no difference.

From experience of a very similar person in my extended family don't do it. It's enabling. Nothing anybody in my extended family has done to help this person has helped. She also lost her kids, multiple flats and is more hopelessly addicted to drugs than ever. You can't keep helping them with their lifestyle choices. Just echoing other posters really you'll get stuck with paying or she'll lose the flat anyways. Or rip you off somehow.
Addicts have a way of shifting blame onto other people rather than facing up to things. It's always something someone did or didn't do and a series of unfortunate events rather than the consequences of their actions because of addictions. They can be very sorry for themselves whilst tearing the lives apart of the people who love them.
You can be there for them if you choose. And help them support themselves when they want to make positive choices. But don't enable addiction.

I was going to post to say that rather than feel that guilt, because regardless of the rights and wrongs, that financial help usually just enables addiction etc, I would help pay the rent because I think you’re right that going from prison to a hostel would make it more likely that she would get straight back into drugs. I really would feel guilt in your position but with the benefit of being outside looking in, I think it would be misplaced.

Having said that, paying the rent on the flat for 8 months while she is in prison. That’s a tough call. And I think previous posters are right, it’s possible that you will end up being the only one paying. Then you will feel even more guilty if you want to stop because in that scenario you will be the only one to have not given up on her.

I think I would have to pull the plug now, especially as there is no guarantee she will be able to support herself when she is released. Will she even remain drug free while she is in prison? If the media is to be believed, drugs are a problem in prisons. And then, as you said, she may well come out and get straight back on it anyway.

I think you will get a more informed response to your dilemma from one of the agencies that support families of addicts. Al Anon is the one for alcoholism but I’m sure there is an equivalent for drugs.

YABU - this is your sister, she will be off drugs when she gets out and this is a real chance to change her life. You can afford it so pay.

Don't count on her being off drugs in prison. Drugs are rife, it's a problem nobody has been able to solve, because those who are determined to get drugs in will find a way. Not always for their own use but to 'sell' to other inmates - in return for what depends on what sort of person they are but the price is usually heavy.

From what you've said about her, and about your fears for what she'll do as soon as she gets out, this isn't likely to be her last spell inside. What happens next time? And the time after that?

That would be dependant on the probation service approving that arrangement. They might well not.

As someone who worked for years with substance misusers being released from prison I don't think you should pay.

My personal experience with people like this around me is that sometimes one needs to hit rock bottom to change their life around, paying for your sister's rent is being an enabler, don't do it. Yes she will hate you and probably stop talking to you but you might be able to save her once she finds herself homeless or she might just become the homeless druggie type and get more deep into it. I would have a chat will her and tell her this: she is the only one who can save herself, you can't save her from herself. Be kind but firm.

does she have a social worker?

I agree with pp. 8 months of rent will be much valuable to be kept for when she is out of prison. With that she could afford a deposit and the first 6 months of rent on the new flat.

There's no guarantee she will be out in that time.

It's a waste of money if she isn't using it.

Most of you can't afford it.

She mostly likely won't be clean when she is out and this cycle will repeat.

This is without the larger point if you all enabling her. Let her complete her sentence. Then see if you can help if you still want to.

Just to add OP that she was using drugs and carrying out criminal behaviour while living in this flat so (to me) it's a null argument that keeping the flat will keep her clean. It didn't work when she lived there did it?

There are far too many variables. Apart from not being a workable plan for the reasons you already foresaw, something could happen in prison that means she might end up having to serve her full sentence.
Even if it goes well and she comes out in 8 months what's stopping her from committing more crimes and going straight back to prison? I understand she wishes to keep the flat but her solution has far too many things potentially going wrong. I would tell her that you will help and support her as much as you can when she comes out but this plan isn't workable and involves too many people having to commit over a long period of time.

The only reason you are considering this is to assuage your conscience because you know that sadly this is not going to work and the money you spend will be wasted. Just be there for her practically when she leaves prison.... as far as you can be. It's realistically the only thing you can do. If she wants to stay clean she will whether she is in the flat or in a hostel. It's up to her.

Absolutely not you should not pay. It will be a disaster as you predict and she will lose the place anyway. I know you feel guilty but you literally CANNOT help her. Keeping her children wasn’t enough to stop the drugs, losing her flat wasn’t enough to stop the drugs. Nothing you do or don’t do will make a difference. You know this. Save your money for your own children. Your primary duty is to them. If you want to help, try to help her daughter avoid the same path if you think there is a chance.

She should sublet it

Lots of good points here OP.

It's important not to look at all the possibiilties - what will happen when she comes out - where will she live/will she use/what will neice do and so on....

You simply can't plan for that now. And, it's not your place anyway.

The guilt may be partly / wholly survivors guilt because your life is going well.
But you won't feel better by unfantilising your sister.

There are professionals in the prison service who have knowledge and experience to help her plan release - if she takes them up on it. There is support to avoid being homeless - if she takes it.

She has to make this change herself. Having a safety net (even it were realistic) will only postpone her having to face reality. And you know that she may never make significant changes; may not choose to or may not be able to.

If she were in a hostel with drugs around thats very hard. If she were in her flat with friends who use coming around that's hard too. You cannot make this easier for her.

The boyfriend and daughter absolutely cannot afford to do this. It will fail. And then sis will be disappointed AND you'll all be out of pocket.

It's heart wrenching for you. You love your sister.

You deserve to be your own priority though. I think you have to be honest and tell her don't think this plan will succeed and you won't be in it. Just keep it simple.

But as a pp said, tell her you want to support her, will visit if she wishes, value and love her and will be available to plan with her with the information she gets as her release date approaches.

I've only read the OP responses, so sorry if this has already been mentioned. .

But don't housing associations require that the homes are not empty for x amount of time? Ergo, your sister would be in breach anyway?

DO the prison not have advice for this sort of thing I assume it is common.

And I am sorry OP, this sounds stressful on emotional and practical terms.