Prince William opens new youth homelessness development

Prince William attended the opening of a new development built to combat youth homelessness.

The prince is patron of Centrepoint – a national homelessness charity – and officially opened Reuben House, a block of 33 studio properties in Lugard Road, Peckham, where rents are set at a third of a resident’s income.

Reuben House forms a key part of the organisation’s Independent Living Programme to combat youth homelessness. 

Centrepoint estimates that approximately 15,000 16 to 24-year-olds in London faced homelessness last year, from a total of 129,000 across the UK. 

To help address this, Centrepoint aims to deliver 300 homes to young people in developments in London and Manchester in the coming years.

Giving young people at risk of homelessness the chance to build a better future for themselves. 

During his visit, The Prince met some of those who have made the development possible, before being given a tour of the site including seeing one of the flats. 

He spent time with residents, hearing about their experience of moving into Reuben House and how the new accommodation will help provide security and stability to them. 

Each resident at Reuben House has to have a job or be in a full-time apprenticeship.

The development comes complete with solar panels, keeping heating bills to approximately £200 a year. 

The flats are approximately 21 metres and contain a kitchen, dining area and bathroom as well as space to sleep and relax. 

Pictured top: Prince Williams opens the new Centrepoint development (Picture: Rebekah Kennington/Centrepoint)