Prince William and Gordon Brown have strengthened their commitment to ending homelessness in the UK through an ambitious five-year programme, Homewards, leveraging innovative housing solutions and strategic partnerships to transform empty properties into sustainable homes.
Prince William has forged a meaningful partnership with the Multibank charity, whose President is former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to further the Homewards initiative, a comprehensive five-year programme dedicated to ending homelessness across the UK. Launched in June 2024, Homewards is driven by the ambition that homelessness can be made “rare, brief and unrepeated.” This partnership will see the Multibank charity become a key supporter, known as an Activator, helping to furnish 250 new homes through Homewards’ Innovative Housing Projects (IHPs). The homes are being developed in six targeted areas: Lambeth, Bournemouth, Newport, Belfast, Aberdeen, and Sheffield. These locations employ scalable solutions tailored to distinct groups requiring assistance, such as young single occupants in Aberdeen and chronically homeless women in Northern Ireland.
The collaboration with Multibank, backed by major retailers including B&Q, Bosch Home Appliances, DFS Group, and IKEA, focuses on providing essential furniture and goods for empty properties. Research underpinning the initiative shows that tenants are 12.5% more likely to sustain their tenancy when furnished with necessary household items, which in turn helps prevent cyclical homelessness. By transforming empty houses into secure and welcoming homes, the partnership aims to break the cycle of repeat homelessness.
Prince William and Gordon Brown have a shared dedication to social causes. Their rapport was publicly acknowledged when they appeared together on a panel in Sheffield in July 2025, marking the second anniversary of Homewards. The panel also included Homewards Advocate Steven Bartlett and was devoted to discussing cross-sector partnerships and the significant progress the programme has achieved. At a previous panel in July 2024, Brown praised William’s commitment, drawing parallels between the Prince’s focus on homelessness and the humanitarian efforts of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Brown remarked that William is shifting public perception by emphasising the potential of homeless individuals when given opportunity and support.
The Homewards programme builds on Prince William’s long-standing engagement with homelessness, inspired by a childhood visit to The Passage charity with his mother, a moment he described as an eye-opener that shaped his perspective on social issues. William has reiterated his commitment to providing safe and stable housing as a fundamental right, framing his involvement in Homewards as part of his royal responsibilities.
Homewards has made substantial strides since its inception, marked by several key events, including a milestone anniversary in July 2024 in Lambeth, where representatives from all six focus locations gathered to evaluate progress and future plans. The programme’s delivery phase emphasizes local empowerment through Action Plans, supported by partnerships with organisations like Hays, which has pledged national and local commitments to create employment pathways critical to preventing homelessness.
Prince William’s continuing efforts through Homewards exemplify a broader vision of tackling homelessness through innovative housing, community collaboration, and support services. This cohesive strategy, combined with the practical step of furnishing homes, aims to ensure those at risk of homelessness can rebuild their lives with dignity in safe and stable environments.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (Express) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4
- [2] (Royal.uk) – Paragraphs 5, 6
- [3] (Royal Foundation) – Paragraph 4
- [4] (Reuters) – Paragraph 7
- [5] (Royal Foundation) – Paragraph 6
- [6] (Royal Foundation) – Paragraph 7
- [7] (Reuters) – Paragraph 8
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is current, with the most recent event being the July 2025 anniversary of the Homewards programme. The partnership between Prince William and Gordon Brown was publicly announced in March 2025. The Express article was published on 10 November 2025, indicating timely reporting. However, the Express is known for sensationalist reporting, which may affect the perceived freshness. Additionally, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Prince William and Gordon Brown. A search reveals that similar quotes have been used in earlier reports, such as the BBC News article from July 2025. This suggests that the quotes may have been reused, which could indicate recycled content. However, the Express article provides additional context and details not present in the earlier reports, which may indicate some originality.
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a tabloid newspaper known for sensationalist reporting. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. While the Express has a history of publishing accurate information, its sensationalist approach may affect the credibility of this particular report.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known events and initiatives. The partnership between Prince William and Gordon Brown to combat homelessness in the UK is well-documented, with multiple reputable sources reporting on it. The details provided in the article are consistent with other reports, suggesting that the information is accurate.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the narrative presents plausible and timely information, the reliance on a sensationalist source like the Express raises concerns about the reliability of the content. The reuse of quotes from earlier reports suggests potential recycling of content, which may affect the originality of the article. Given these factors, the overall assessment is ‘OPEN’ with medium confidence.
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