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 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.
