300 Modular Homes Endorsed By Prince William To Be Built By Charity “Not Just To Tackle Homelessness, But To End It.”

Oct 11, 2019 by apost team

A youth homelessness charity has just announced it will be building hundreds of homes with capped rent in an attempt to curb youth homelessness in the UK.  Prince William has been Patron to the charity, Centrepoint, since 2005. 

The project, which was announced yesterday by The Telegraph, is described as the Centrepoint’s “most ambitious program to date.” The program aims to offer 300 modular homes in London and Manchester to help the younger generation find affordable housing and reach financial independence.

apost.com

Seyi Obakin, the charity’s chief executive, told The Telegraph that their goal is to “help young people help themselves by giving them a job and a home.” The program will achieve this by offering its tenants entry-level jobs and apprenticeships which will eventually lead to full-time employment.

Mr. Obakin expressed his admiration for Prince William, saying the Duke challenges the charity regularly to come up with bold solutions “not just to tackle homelessness, but to end it.”

“Prince William has met loads of young people; he’s very encouraging when he does meet them, he’s very supportive of what we’re trying to do here,” he said. “He’s very challenging about what we do around youth homelessness, so he’s not sitting on the sidelines, he’s putting our feet to the fire.”

The program will take advantage of modular homes which will be placed in various locations where the landowners will receive modest rent in exchange for the use of their land for around 10 years or less. What makes the program so revolutionary, however, is that the occupants of the homes will pay a capped rent relevant to their income, which will not exceed one third of their salaries.

“What’s unique about it is not just that it’s using modular homes, but the idea that we would limit the rent to income is new,” Mr Obakin added.  “There’s nobody else that is doing that, and I think that that makes it genuinely affordable for these young people, and it means that those young people who get this opportunity have this chance to stop worrying about housing, and focus on their employment.”

Prince William has been the Patron of the charity since 2005, following in the footsteps of his mother the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who also held the patronage until her tragic death in 1997. 

“Centrepoint has always been close to the Prince's heart,” their website states. “As children, Princes William and Harry made private visits to Centrepoint services with their mother, the late Diana Princess of Wales, who herself was Centrepoint’s Patron.”

What do you think of this innovative scheme to help combat youth homelessness? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!