Prince William has insisted the homeless shouldn’t be blamed for their plight.
The Prince of Wales is marking three years of his Homewards project — which aims to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated” — and in a speech planned for Tuesday (June 30), he will tell how research shows his goal is possible if “systems” are changed.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he will say: “Homelessness is not an individual failure; it is a systemic failure. And, if systems help create the problem, then systems can help prevent it.
“By trialling new approaches, Homewards is demonstrating how prevention can be embedded across every part of our society.
“Proving that our true strength emerges not in isolation, but in a shared purpose that makes us greater than the sum of our parts.”
Hazel Destiny, the executive director for homelessness at the Royal Foundation, praised her “punchy” meetings with William over the issue and said they are beginning to see “green shoots and clear evidence of what works in practice to prevent homelessness”.
Asked what her meetings with the 44-year-old royal are like, she said: “Punchy, I would say. But the question that the Prince always asks me is ‘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?’
“If we start to change the culture, if people across the whole society think differently, act differently, work together, feel optimistic, then that will also be part of that sustainable long-term change that will spread to other places.
“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 and how we can then move on to deliver at scale over the next years.”
The Homewards programme was launched in Newport in South Wales, Lambeth in south London, Northern Ireland, Aberdeen, Sheffield, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, with each “local coalition group” working to identify solutions to specific groups at risk of homelessness in their area, including women and families facing multiple disadvantages in Wales and lone parents in temporary accommodation in the capital.
Last year, in a letter to the coalition groups to mark the project’s second anniversary, William noted making changes is “complex and unpredictable” but he is “confident” about the plans.
He wrote: “Homewards is an ambitious programme. Tackling homelessness is not just about building homes. Creating long-term change is complex and unpredictable, but I am confident we can lead and inspire understanding, empathy and optimism that homelessness can be ended.
“Focus is also important, and you have identified the groups particularly at risk of homelessness in your locations to drive solutions that show it is possible to prevent their homelessness.
“While visiting the six locations, I have been inspired by the motivation, creativity and expertise that is embodied in each location and the tangible difference you are making for some of society’s most vulnerable.”
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