Latest news with #InstituteofGlobalHomelessness
Mint
7 days ago
- Business
- Mint
On Diana's birth anniversary, Prince William advances Homewards' mission
Prince William is marking what would have been Princess Diana's 64th birth anniversary with a significant step forward in his campaign to combat homelessness. According to People, on July 1, the Prince of Wales will visit Sheffield to observe the second anniversary of his Homewards initiative. Launched in 2023, Homewards aims to make homelessness 'rare, brief and unrepeated'. The cause holds deep personal significance for William, whose late mother frequently took him and Prince Harry to shelters during their childhood. Her legacy of compassion continues to shape his efforts today. William's July 1 visit to Sheffield includes meetings with representatives from six regions piloting local approaches to homelessness — Sheffield, Newport, Aberdeen, Northern Ireland, Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole, and Lambeth in London. In a public letter, he acknowledged the progress so far and urged continued focus. 'Your experiences are what makes Homewards unique and powerful. We have the ability to harness our collective capabilities, expertise, and resources towards this common cause,' he wrote. The prince praised the transition into 'delivery mode' across sites and highlighted targeted strategies for populations most at risk. 'Focus is important,' he added. One of the major developments William is set to celebrate is a funding breakthrough. People reports that Homewards secured over $50 million from Lloyds Bank to develop affordable housing across the six areas. The initiative calls this a 'groundbreaking moment,' and hopes it will encourage similar support from other institutions. At a school in Sheffield, William will also observe a new intervention model inspired by Australia's Geelong Project. The UK version, titled 'Upstream,' seeks to identify young people at risk of homelessness and offer timely support. The Australian model led to a 40 per cent drop in youth homelessness. Experts say Homewards is making the right moves at the right time. Lydia Stazen, former Executive Director of the Institute of Global Homelessness, called the project 'exactly where I would expect it to be,' as reported by People. Polly Neate, former Shelter CEO, credited William's leadership. 'Having somebody like Prince William say it is possible to end homelessness is hugely impactful,' she said. William has maintained that Homewards complements existing efforts rather than replaces them. 'It's about the people who hold trust within those local communities,' he said, and empowering them to make change happen. Homewards is a UK-based homelessness prevention campaign launched by Prince William in 2023. It aims to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated through localised, long-term solutions. Prince William has long been committed to the issue, inspired by his late mother Princess Diana, who took him and Prince Harry to shelters to understand the human side of homelessness. In its second year, Homewards has launched over 100 projects across six UK locations and secured over $50 million in funding to support housing development and community programs. Unlike many crisis-focused responses, Homewards centres on early intervention and systemic change, working closely with local communities to prevent homelessness before it begins.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Prince William advances homelessness campaign on Princess Diana's birthday
Prince William visits Sheffield on Princess Diana's birthday to mark two years of Homewards, an initiative aiming to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated through local partnerships, early intervention programs, and affordable housing projects Prince William will travel to Sheffield on July 1, the day that would have marked Princess Diana's 64th birthday, to highlight the two‑year progress of his homelessness campaign, Homewards. Launched in the third quarter of 2023, Homewards aims to make homelessness 'rare, brief and unrepeated.' The initiative reflects Prince William's commitment to carrying forward Princess Diana's legacy in social compassion and campaign has engaged six pilot regions across the UK: Sheffield, Newport in South Wales, Aberdeen in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Bournemouth–Christchurch–Poole, and Lambeth in London. Each area is now in what Prince William's open letter describes as 'delivery mode' in implementing locally tailored strategies for homelessness prevention and intervention. Also read: Royal insiders hint Kate Middleton may never fully recover — but a bold new chapter with Prince William loHomewards has launched more than 100 projects across the six pilot regions. A significant milestone came with a $50 million financing agreement from Lloyds Bank, intended to support the construction and refurbishment of affordable housing. Homewards describes the investment as a 'groundbreaking moment' that may unlock additional funding streams from public and private a letter to participating local authorities, Prince William praised their efforts:'Your experiences are what makes Homewards unique and powerful... I am immensely proud to say that your collective effort has already allowed us to achieve lasting impact.' He emphasized the need for continued focus, adding:'I am confident we can lead and inspire understanding, empathy and optimism that homelessness can be ended.'Also read: Prince William turns 43: Royals share new puppy photo for his birthday celebrationExperts from the homelessness and charitable sectors have endorsed Homewards' approach. Lydia Stazen, former executive director of the Institute of Global Homelessness and a member of Homewards' advisory board, noted:'The networks have been built...[and] we are seeing really concrete outcomes.'Polly Neate, former CEO of Shelter and Women's Aid, highlighted Homewards' focus on prevention:'We need to get out of this idea that crisis intervention is going to end homelessness... What Homewards is demonstrating how those systems can work differently.'Stazen attributed the campaign's rapid progress to Prince William's involvement:'His leadership brings 'a particular type of figure'... capable of convening, inspiring and motivating action.' Prince William's visible endorsement and active participation have helped distinguish Homewards from earlier efforts that focused primarily on crisis response. During his visit to Sheffield, Prince William will tour a local school to view an early intervention initiative known as Upstream, modeled on Australia's Geelong Project. The program, which reached a 40 per cent reduction in youth homelessness and a 20 per cent decline in early school leaving, identifies and supports young people at risk before they enter homelessness. William's itinerary also includes visiting Sheffield's Innovative Housing Project, where the first residents are moving into newly developed or refurbished homes funded through Homewards. The project represents a tangible outcome from the campaign's Lloyds Bank financing and local partnerships. Prince William anchored Homewards in Princess Diana's humanitarian influence. He and his brother Prince Harry visited homelessness shelters as children, a formative experience that guided William's continued advocacy. He now serves as patron of organizations that Diana once supported, including Centrepoint and The Passage. Also read: 'He despises them': Furious Prince William to axe Harry's children from royal lineup when he's king Ahead of the Sheffield visit, William wrote that local teams had:'identified the groups particularly at risk of homelessness in your locations to drive solutions that show it is possible to prevent their homelessness.' As Homewards enters its third year, Prince William's role continues to be central in uniting charitable efforts, public funding, and local innovation. By spotlighting early intervention, housing solutions, and community collaboration, the campaign aligns with research-based strategies aimed at systemic change.
