Prince William has marked the third anniversary of his ambitious Homewards project by announcing more than £7.7 million in new funding to combat homelessness. The Prince of Wales issued a rallying cry for the initiative to reach new heights, emphasising that homelessness is a systemic failure that systems can help prevent.
New Funding and Partnerships
In the past year, Homewards invested £1.9 million across six UK locations, with an additional £3.5 million raised through grants and private philanthropy. A new £2.3 million furniture collaboration with The Multibank, DfS, Bosch Home Appliances, IKEA and B&Q will help people establish and sustain tenancies. These commitments are in addition to £50 million donated last year by Lloyds bank to unlock lending for housing organisations. The total new funding amounts to £7.7 million.
Prince William's Call to Action
At a special anniversary event in London, the Prince urged Homewards to scale its solutions, stating: “The next two years are about proving that what works in six locations can work across the country.” He added: “Homelessness is not an individual failure; it is a systemic failure. And, if systems help create the problem, then systems can help prevent it.”
Progress and Impact
Homewards, now over halfway through its five-year mission, has reached more than 2,400 people through schools and community support, supported over 250 people into employment, and helped more than 73 individuals and families move into stable homes who might otherwise have faced homelessness. The programme operates across six flagship locations: Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and the Dorset towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.
Expert and Royal Foundation Perspectives
Dr Peter Mackie, Executive Director of the Institute of Global Homelessness and member of the Homewards National Expert Panel, said: “What we are seeing through Homewards reflects a growing international understanding; that homelessness can be prevented when systems work together more effectively… These early results are important because they show how data, lived experience and cross-sector action can come together to reduce risk and intervene earlier.”
Hazel Detsiny, Executive Director of Homelessness at The Royal Foundation, described meetings with the prince as “punchy” and noted his persistent question: “How will we know this has worked at the end of five years and how will we know it’s worked for long-term change?” She added: “We’re not claiming that we’ve got all the answers. We’re only at the halfway point, but we are now seeing green shoots and clear evidence of what works in practice to prevent homelessness.”
Celebrity Support and William's Inspiration
William has travelled to all six Homewards locations over the past three years. Celebrity supporters include former Lioness Fara Williams, TV presenter Gail Porter, Aston Villa footballer Tyrone Mings, Spice Girl Geri Horner, Opera star Sir Bryn Terfel, and broadcaster Sara Cox. The Prince has spoken about how visiting shelters with his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as a child left a deep impression and inspired his work.
