Finland as a Model to End Homelessness: William’s Perspective

Prince William has launched a visionary and groundbreaking project to eradicate long-term homelessness in the United Kingdom. His goal is to ensure that instances of homelessness are rare, brief, and never repeated. Over the next two days, the future monarch will unveil the details of the program during visits to six pilot projects across the country. These projects have received generous grants of up to £500,000 ($637,000) each from the Royal Foundation, the charity supported by William and his wife, Kate (source: AP).

Reflecting on his personal connection to the issue, Prince William stated, “My first visit to a homelessness shelter was when I was 11, accompanied by my mother. Those visits made a profound and lasting impact on me.” The Homewards initiative, which encompasses six supported projects, involves collaboration between local organizations, individuals, and businesses to combat homelessness within their communities. Inspired by the success of Finland, where people are first provided with permanent housing before addressing other issues such as substance abuse, Homewards aims to replicate this approach in the UK. This initiative comes at a critical time when rising rents and a lack of affordable housing have driven an increasing number of people into homelessness, amidst the largest decline in living standards since World War II.

According to Matt Downie, CEO of the charity Crisis, which is working alongside Homewards, an estimated 300,000 individuals experience homelessness across the UK on any given night. Downie emphasizes that the most effective way to combat homelessness is by preventing it altogether. He cites the examples of countries like Finland, where homelessness has been nearly eradicated, and innovative housing-first programs that have proven successful. (Read more Prince William stories.)