Prince William is currently opening two homeless shelters in Central London. The Prince of Wales has arrived at Bentley House and Passage House this afternoon (Thursday, February 23), following a refurbishment of the two buildings.
William is meeting residents, staff and volunteers to hear about the impact the new facilities will have on them as well as representatives from organisations who have supported the refurbishment. The prince joked upon his art skills on arrival, remarking that while the artists present were 'bloody good', he'd 'definitely not' be showing off his own artistic prowess.
He's also been meeting those who've been affected by the institutions. Upon entering he met a man who said St Vincent's has been a 'lifeline'.
The buildings will together support approximately 225 people who are experiencing homelessness per year. Passage House has 37 en-suite units and offers a rapid-response service for those who are newly homeless, aiming to reduce the instances of people becoming stuck in a street-based lifestyle. Meanwhile, Bentley House provides a permanent home for 20 people who have a long history of being street homeless. While residents here live independently, they are provided with on-site support from The Passage’s team of experts and volunteers.
