Prince William says homelessness is 'a systemic failure'
Prince William has marked the third anniversary of his nationwide campaign to end homelessness, saying: 'Homelessness is not an individual failure, it is a systemic failure.'
The royal, who will mark the occasion with a series of public engagements today, has put his neck on the line with Homewards initiatives in six key areas of the country which he says will prove how the issue can be solved once and for all.
New figures released say the campaign is now seeing 'tangible' results, with £1.9million invested across the six Homewards locations and a further £3.5million leveraged through grants and private philanthropy.
In all £2.3million worth of surplus goods – including from supporter IKEA – has been used to furnish Homewards homes, and 250 people have been supported into stable employment.
In a speech he is due to deliver in London today, the future king will say: 'Homelessness is not an individual failure, it is a systemic failure. And if systems help create the problem, 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 Detsiny, executive director of Homelessness at The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, also revealed she had experienced some 'punchy' conversations with her boss about the issue.
When asked what their meetings were 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?'
Prince William in the kitchen at London-based homelessness charity The Passage in 2024, he will say today that the issue can be solved once and for all
The future king will mark the third anniversary of his campaign to end homelessness with a series of public engagements today
'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.'
Homewards is currently being tested in six flagship locations: Lambeth in London, Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Newport in Wales, Northern Ireland and Sheffield.
It works by bringing together diverse organisations working in or around the field such as councils, house builders, charities, banks and schools to provide joined-up, workable policies.
William, 44, has been particularly keen to get the message across that homelessness isn't just about rough sleeping. More than 170,000 children across the UK are living in temporary accommodation, often unsuitable for their needs.
Part of the initiative is identifying at-risk children, families and young people and supporting them before it reaches crisis point.
The future king wants to focus in the last two years of his initiative on proving that what works in their flagship locations can be rolled out nationally.
One of those who Homewards has helped, Chelsie Robinson, 28, from Newport, was homeless and living in temporary accommodation when she was supported by the scheme.
The opera singer who lost work during the Covid pandemic at the same time as her mother died from cancer turned to drink and drugs and says her life has now 'dramatically changed'.
'I'm really proud of myself and for everything I have gone through and thankful and grateful for the support,' she said, praising William's 'humble and beautiful' personality and all his dealings with her.
'He is going to be king and he was just a normal human being, so personable and so lovely to talk to.'
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
