The Prince of Wales visits Depaul UK in London

The Prince of Wales has visited Depaul UK’s London hub to highlight the work they are doing to help young people experiencing homelessness or insecure housing, as well as prevent it occurring in the first place, both in the capital and across the UK.

The issue of homelessness has long been a cause that His Royal Highness is passionate about. He is Patron of homelessness charities The Passage and Centrepoint and last year joined a Big Issue vendor on the streets of London.

In a subsequent article for the magazine, The Prince wrote: “I refuse to believe that homelessness is an irrevocable fact of life. It is an issue that can be solved, but that requires a continued focus and comprehensive support network.”

The work of Depaul UK embodies this ethos, with services going far beyond meeting short-term accommodation needs. Depaul UK offers tailored, long-term support to help individual clients address the issues that have led to their homelessness and ultimately live and work independently.

By delivering workshops with schools they arm young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate life’s challenges and prevent youth homelessness, and using research they have commissioned and feedback from clients, they work with government, local authorities, religious groups and other NGOs to develop new ways of responding to homelessness and to help chart a path towards ending it entirely.

During the visit, The Prince learnt more about some of these strands of work as he met staff who deliver these services. He will also had the opportunity to speak to clients, past and present, to understand how this support impacts their lives both at that crisis point that requires immediate intervention and then throughout their journey with Depaul UK towards independent living and working.