Prince William pledges to ‘end homelessness’ and announces plans to build social housing on own private estate the Duchy of Cornwall

36 comments

  1. I’m not a Royalist myself, would prefer a republic, but if these are the kinds of thoughts William is having regarding the country, then he may one day be a pretty good king.

  2. I hope he directs his attention to the science and medical side of homelessness which greatly needs attention, the science of homelessness of greatly lacking and is a subject that is under funded.

  3. Good policy, let’s hope it stays that way and encourages others to do the same. The housing crisis we have on our hands is beyond stupid.

  6. Okay I’m very anti monarchy so will be very sceptical on the extent/him just being a landlord. But this could.be very beneficial in area that needs housing

  7. I don’t believe anything will come of it – too many vested interests between his idea and the actual building of the houses. Good headline for him, for a minute. But give it a few years, no one will remember this, and there will have been an insurmountable roadblock thrown in the way.

  8. Finland have been doing this since 2008. Their housing first policy means that housing comes first and you don’t get kicked out of social housing for substances misuse and mental health problems. They are the only country in Europe where Homelessness has continued to fall.

  9. Back in the day, George Osborne pledged to end homelessness and rough sleeping within 2 years. So I don’t know what William is proposing to do, as obviously the problem has already been solved.

  12. Charles has already been very much involved with [Poundbury](https://poundbury.co.uk/live/homes/). Then there’s Nansleddan in Newquay which is built on Duchy land. Granted they’re not all social housing but a percentage are. It would be unusual to have 100% social housing these days anyway as the aim is to move away from the stereotypical ‘council estates’ and have everyone integrated together.

  14. I guess it’ll be easier because it’s his private land? Nice gesture but really needs the government to do this to get anywhere.

    Still. Probably more than what most politicos have done.

  16. There are two distinct types of homelessness in the UK. The first is people sleeping rough, which affects maybe 5000 people at any point in time. The second is not having a suitable, permanent, place to live – temporary housing/B&B, sofa surfing, too few bedrooms for the number of children, etc. That affects over a quarter of a million people. They are very different things.

    This article flits between talking about homeless shelters and building affordable housing. It doesn’t seem like a particularly focused plan.

    Is he pledging to end all types of homelessness all in one go? Or is it just hot air?

  19. Royal family is obviously minted, so has the money to do it, would give itself a modest return as well, solves a crisis which, so far, no democratically elected government has been able to resolve. And the royal family don’t need planning permission to build on their estate. Additionally, big overlap between NIMBYs and fans of the royal family, slap a nice flag on it, bit of pomp and a few crests here and there and they’ll be all over it. We will have gone from some grotty, high density, cookie cutter development by persimmon or talor whimpy, to a ‘royal’ village, sounds so much more palatable.

  23. The possibility of a good king is enough reason to keep them. Republican government lets the rich get rich and feel zero responsibility or gratitude for or to the society that allowed to become so.

  24. Been anti-royal my whole life but honestly if he can step up and be an actual force for good and do the things he says he will, then fucking good on him, I hope he does it.

  27. Need to bank in some of that sweet sweet social housing money. Never too late to get into property. Even though your dad owns 25% of the land in the country.

  28. The thing is they’ll always be homelessness, some people can’t cope living alone, and group living can be a horrible alternative unless managed well. Unfortunately, that costs money.

  29. This is all good and well but unless they solve the drug issues too you’re gonna have a bunch of crackheads living rent free on a royal estate.

    Not saying all homeless people are druggies or alcoholics but a good majority of the ones I’ve met have been.

  31. To be fair, Charles has been trying g to use his position to do good but more focused on the environment. To build social housing on his own land is exactly the kind of thing William needs to do to prove his worth.

  32. Perpetual pessimism is obnoxious.

    Although homelessness is a symptom of the macrocosm of addiction, mental health, dilapidated infrastructure, moribund NHS, etc, within our country, it is an act of compassion. Yes, I can be cynical and say William wants to distinguish himself as an altruistic Heir because the extravagance of the coronation engendered much rancour. He possesses a greater percipience of media attention and public perception than Charles; neither have acquired the reputation of Elizabeth II so he’s cultivating an alternative.

    If assisting homeless people is a side benefit, so be it. I personally cannot abolish the monarchy but if William can build houses and ‘end’ homelessness, well that’s at least something for the common people.

  35. Considering migration numbers appears to be getting bigger year on year, the average age to enter the housing market increasing because in order to get on the ladder you’re going to need 100k down payment and a 40k a year salary, an increase in houses that are clearly being snapped up by 2nd time buyers to either rent or hold onto for mere months before flipping them for a higher price and ever increasing inflation…

    I think he has his work cut out for him.

  36. “However, details of the five-year project are being kept secret until the end of the month.”

    Just make sure it publicised first…

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