Prince William Visits Seaside Town to Unveil $63 Million Initiative for Homelessness Relief
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, embarked on a solo mission focused on addressing homelessness. On February 28, 2025, he visited the southern coast of England to explore new housing initiatives targeting individuals facing mental health challenges. The visit included a boat-building course aimed at helping vulnerable youth secure employment, PEOPLE reported.
His initiative, known as Homewards, which he launched in 2023, operates across six pilot areas in the U.K. During this trip to Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, the Prince examined a project dedicated to assisting those with mental health issues in finding stable housing.
Millennium House, featuring 11 beds, tailors individual housing plans to help residents transition to independent living arrangements. This visit also marked the announcement of a new partnership, termed Homewards Activator, crafted to increase housing availability in these pilot regions. Through this partnership, Lloyds Bank Group is contributing an initial $63 million (£50 million) to support smaller housing providers and charities often hindered by investment shortages.
Following his visit to Millennium House, Prince William highlighted the collaboration between Homewards and local organizations aimed at improving job opportunities for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the area. He toured Bournemouth and Poole College, where he learned about the effective coalitions formed to boost employment prospects.
A significant component of this effort is the Job Ready Programme, which offers a 12-week paid training course to homeless individuals. Participants can then gain essential skills at Sunseeker Shipyard, progressing toward qualification and long-term employment positions.
During the tour, Prince William spoke with those involved in the program — referral organizations, trainers, and students who successfully obtained permanent roles in the boat-building sector.
The college recognizes young individuals under 25 as a priority demographic, committing to clear pathways leading to employment and training opportunities in the local community.
At the announcement of the Lloyds Bank partnership, Pim Gregory, Executive Director for Homelessness at the Royal Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. He highlighted the importance of enabling Homewards locations to access essential funding, skills, and expertise.
Gregory noted that this venture is crucial in demonstrating that homelessness can be eradicated. He elaborated on the vital need for new housing investments that provide individualized support for individuals at risk or experiencing homelessness.
Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, a key partner in the Homewards initiative, echoed these sentiments. He remarked on the urgency of collaborative societal action to address the rising homelessness crisis across Britain. Additionally, he applauded Lloyds Banking Group for partnering with the Homewards program to facilitate the creation of affordable homes.
In remarks made last June at Homewards' one-year anniversary, Prince William emphasized his vision for addressing homelessness through transformative approaches. He stated, "I created Homewards to inspire a movement to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place."
Overall, the Prince noted the significant progress made since establishing Homewards and fostered a call to action for collective efforts toward this noble goal.
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