Prince William made a solo appearance in Wales on Wednesday as he works towards “his massive ambition” to end homelessness.
The Prince of Wales focused on the problems women face when homeless and highlighted the commitments from local organizations that had pledged support.
Prince William, 42, headed to Newport, Wales, one of the six key areas around the UK that his Homewards program focuses on.
Sonia Furzland, who was homeless at 16, is an executive director of operations at Newport City Homes and described William’s goal as “a massive ambition”.
Prince William made a solo appearance in Wales on Wednesday
PA
She added: “I genuinely get the sense from him that he absolutely believes that through the work he’s leading that we can end homelessness. And that’s really inspiring.
“There’s something about him as well that brings people to the table. There’s a certain charisma and also his absolute belief that we can make this happen means that people who probably wouldn’t be interested in the conversation are actually interested.”
The project has identified unhoused women as a key priority in Newport, where there are reports of a rise in women’s homelessness.
It suggests that women face additional disadvantages, including trauma and domestic abuse, leaving them less likely than men to sleep on the streets because of fears for their safety.
Prince William was told about the project’s impact on preventing women’s homelessness.
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Sonia told People: “He’s just such a natural people person. He came and sat at our table and we were mid-conversation and, bizarrely enough, the future king is sat with us, and everybody carried on talking.
“That says a lot about him, in that he’s not necessarily the loudest person in the room. He was very keen for the conversation to happen. What struck me was his humility.”
Soon after his arrival in the city, William was told about the project’s impact on preventing women’s homelessness.
The Prince of Wales was joined by Homewards Advocate Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, who herself experienced homelessness as a teenager in the city.
Prince of Wales met local women who have experienced homelessness and are part of a Women of Newport photography project
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Cohen-Hatton, who appeared in William’s recent documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, is now a successful county fire chief.
In addition, the Prince of Wales met local women who have experienced homelessness and are part of a Women of Newport photography project.
The project seeks to raise awareness and change perceptions around women’s homelessness and demonstrate that recovery from homelessness is possible.
He also met privately with a women’s support service to hear from women who have experienced homelessness due to domestic abuse and sexual exploitation.
Last week, the future king visited Belfast, Northern Ireland, to see the progress the project is making there.
