Prince William has called on the technology industry to help
prevent homelessness before it happens, as the Royal Family’s
efforts to tackle the issue gathered momentum with a separate
homelessness-focused engagement by Queen Camilla.
Speaking at London Tech Week, the Prince of Wales said
homelessness was “rarely random” and argued that modern technology
could be used to identify warning signs earlier, enabling support
to be offered before people reach crisis point.
The future king appeared at the event on behalf of Homewards,
his flagship programme aimed at making homelessness “rare, brief
and unrepeated”. Addressing business leaders and technology
experts, William suggested that data already collected through
everyday services could play a crucial role in preventing
homelessness.
“The earlier you deal with a problem, the better, as we all know
in life,” he said.
“Many of your customers, your clients, will be using data
through banking apps, through their phones. I’m not sure you
realise how much that data can be used to predict and see problems
with potential homelessness before they actually arise.”
The appearance marked the launch of the UK’s first Homelessness
Data Lab, a new initiative led by Homewards in partnership with
Salesforce and LandAid.
The project will bring together more than 25 organisations from
the public, private and charitable sectors to explore how data can
be used responsibly and ethically to identify people at risk of
homelessness and intervene sooner.
William joined a panel discussion featuring Salesforce UK and
Ireland chief executive Zahra Bahrololoumi, Bloomberg Associates
principal Linda Gibbs and NatWest Group’s Solange Chamberlain.
The Prince said technology had the potential to become a
powerful force for good, helping not only to address homelessness
in Britain but also serving as a model for tackling the issue
internationally.
The engagement came on the same day Queen Camilla visited a St
Mungo’s accommodation service in south London, where she
highlighted the role reading can play in helping people rebuild
their lives.
The Queen donated a collection of 20 personally selected books
through her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, and met residents,
support workers and volunteers at the homelessness service.
Among the titles she donated were Wuthering Heights,
The Queen’s Necklace and I Capture the
Castle.
During the visit, Camilla described reading as “a wonderful way
of escapism” capable of transporting people beyond the challenges
of everyday life.
Television presenter Lorraine Kelly, who attended the
engagement, praised the initiative and said books could help people
regain confidence and opportunities while recovering from
homelessness.
Former residents and support workers also spoke about the
positive impact reading can have on mental wellbeing, literacy and
recovery from trauma.
The dual engagements underline the growing focus senior royals
are placing on homelessness, with William pursuing long-term
structural solutions while Camilla champions practical initiatives
designed to support people already experiencing housing
insecurity.