Prince William used his Cornwall estate for public housing to end homelessness World news
In a heart-to-heart interview, Prince William, the future King of England, has revealed his commitment to tackling homelessness by using his own land for public housing.
Inspired by a childhood visit to a shelter with his dying mother, Princess Diana, the Prince of Wales decided to play an important role in the fight against homelessness.
In his first interview as heir-to-the-throne, Prince William expressed his unwavering commitment to establishing public housing on the 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate.
While admitting his limited expertise in policy-making, the Prince is convinced that his intentions are genuine and is fueled by a strong desire to effect change.
ALSO READ| A friend of King Charles refuted Prince Harry’s damaging comments on the royal family
When The Sunday Times of London asked about his plans, Prince William shared, “You’ll see when you’re ready. I’m not a policy expert, but I push where I can.” That shows the depth of his commitment. , he explained that providing housing on Duchy land is at the forefront of his mind. He decided to start small and gradually scale the project if it was to be successful.
Prince’s commitment to tackling homelessness extends beyond mere rhetoric. He unveiled a five-year nationwide charity project, set to be announced by his Royal Foundation later in June, aimed at tackling the root causes of homelessness. His main concern is in the dramatic rise in “hidden” youth homelessness, such as sofa surfing, which he believes is a case of, “people don’t even look.”
With personal experience in dealing with homeless people, Prince William emphasized the importance of human connection.
“How many people stop and talk to someone who is homeless? There are many. In my work, I get to meet these people, I get to hear the stories, I get to feel it, I get to see it. That to me—and I’ve heard from them themselves—is very important. They have become invisible. It’s really important that society acknowledges that someone is out there and they’re having a hard time. It shouldn’t happen but it’s there, you can’t ignore it,” he explained.
Prevention, rather than mere control, is a major priority for Prince William. It aims to raise public awareness of homelessness and advocate “more collaboration” between the sector to improve living conditions across the country.
ALSO READ| ‘More fear than resolve’: Joe Biden on this Xi Jinping mistake
The prince urged everyone to reject “preconceived notions” and “judgments” about the homeless, stressing the importance of understanding their situations and extending a helping hand.
The Duke of Cambridge envisions his project as a catalyst for changing the public perception of homelessness.
“There’s a lot of preconceived notions around homelessness, there’s still stigma, when actually a lot of people don’t understand the basics. We just see each person on the street and go, ‘Oh.’ There are many theories about why the person is there. You see more homeless adults because that’s what we see on the streets. What we don’t see is youth homelessness – sofa surfing, people sleeping in cars or on a mate’s bed, many homeless youths are very hidden,” he said.
As a supporter of homeless charities Centrepoint and The Passage, Prince William’s commitment to this cause is deep. Reflecting on her own upbringing, she spoke of involving her own children in charitable activities.
The Prince believes in the importance of exposing his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, to the realities that others face. By instilling compassion and understanding at a young age, he hopes to develop a sense of responsibility to improve the lives of the less fortunate.
Prince William’s new initiative not only aims to tackle homelessness but also seeks to shift public focus to the good work done by the royal government.
In the face of recent challenges, including the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the controversy surrounding the Duke of York, the Prince is expected to emphasize the family’s commitment to serving the community.
“We are all very busy and I think it is sometimes difficult to see what the family brings us and what we do.”
ALSO READ| The US launched a revolutionary program in the middle of America, paving the way to American Visas
Prince William’s unwavering commitment to tackling homelessness and creating sustainable solutions demonstrates his deep compassion for those in need.
“But the number of causes, benefits, dinners, meetings, visits, whatever it is, that we do every day throughout the year, we’ve always been involved in that, it’s part of what we do. It’s trying to highlight other causes, other people, other needs, and help people where we can and we will continue to do that,” he said.
