Prince William Advances Youth Homelessness Mission

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Prince William is continuing the work started by his late mother, Princess Diana, by backing new homes for young people at risk of homelessness in London.

As a shy 11-year-old, the prince visited a homeless shelter alongside Diana, an experience that has shaped his dedication to tackling youth homelessness. In 2023, Prince William launched the Homewards mission, aiming to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated.” That goal has now taken a significant step forward.

Following successful housing projects in Aberdeen and Sheffield, 16 new homes are set to be built in Lambert, South London. The project is a partnership between the charity Centrepoint and funding from the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall estate.

Plans have been approved to convert an existing building into independent living apartments specifically for young people aged 18 to 25. Centrepoint will manage the development, which aims to provide affordable housing as a bridge between supported accommodation and the private rental market, according to the Homewards website.

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive Officer of Centrepoint, said the organisation is “delighted” to be working alongside the local council and the Duchy of Cornwall on this initiative. He added that “eradicating youth homelessness is achievable” through collaborative efforts.

“By linking rent to individual income levels, this innovative housing project offers more than shelter it offers young people the stepping stone they need to pursue careers, build financial resilience, and transition out of homelessness for good,” Mr Obakin explained.

Prince William has served as patron of Centrepoint since 2005, a role previously held by his mother. He frequently acknowledges how her humanitarian work continues to influence his approach.

To mark what would have been Diana’s 64th birthday, the prince recently visited Sheffield to celebrate the second anniversary of the Homewards mission and sent a letter to the six participating sites.

In the letter, Prince William praised the progress made and emphasised that the initiative is now firmly in “delivery mode.”

“We can harness our collective capabilities, expertise, and resources towards this common cause. I am immensely proud to say that your collective effort has already allowed us to achieve lasting impact,” he wrote.

He added: “I am confident we can lead and inspire understanding, empathy and optimism that homelessness can be ended. Keep going!”

Princess Diana tragically died in a car accident in Paris on 31 August 1997, an event that deeply affected the nation and the world. Alongside her, the crash claimed the lives of Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul.

The Homewards mission is one part of Prince William’s wider commitment to improving social welfare and supporting vulnerable young people across the UK. Homelessness remains a pressing issue in many cities, with thousands of young people facing unstable housing.

The partnership between Centrepoint and the Duchy of Cornwall aims to provide more than temporary shelter by giving young people a stable environment where they can rebuild their lives and plan for the future.

By linking rent levels to income, the housing project aims to remove one of the major barriers young people face when moving into independent living..

Centrepoint has long been a leading charity in the fight against youth homelessness, offering a range of services to support young people with housing, education, and employment.

With Prince William’s ongoing involvement and public profile, the Homewards initiative is expected to gain further momentum in the coming years, potentially inspiring similar projects across the country.