Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, review: the future King’s commitment shines through

The Prince of Wales’s Homewards project could genuinely change Britons lives for the better, as shown in ITV1’s new behind-the-scenes film

4/5

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Would you watch a documentary about homelessness without the draw of the future King? Launching Prince William: We Can End Homelessness at an event earlier this month, an ITV executive made clear that it is the royal access, rather than the subject matter, which will bring in the audience: “What our viewers especially warm to and appreciate is a glimpse of the real person behind the royal persona.”
The programme-makers know their brief. There is just enough of the Prince’s personal life here to keep royal fans happy: mentions of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who took William to homeless shelters when he was a boy; references to his own children, who have started noticing homeless people on the school run and asking: “Why are they sitting there?”
But beyond the Hello!-style tidbits, the programme does a decent job of covering the issue at hand. It shows that homelessness comes in many forms, while suggesting ways in which it can be tackled. Over two episodes, the tone is upbeat and optimistic (and filled with modern buzzphrases – everyone talks about “lived experience”). “I’m not saying I’m going to solve the world’s homelessness problem,” says the Prince, but he truly believes that he can help to solve Newport’s homelessness problem, and Aberdeen’s, and four other pilot locations that form part of his Homewards initiative.
In Newport, we meet 59-year-old Big Issue seller Vincent, who now has a home thanks to a scheme inspired by the Finnish model: rough sleepers are placed in accommodation, irrespective of their problems, and provided with intensive support to stay off the streets. Vincent is “part of the cohort of people who are so easily written off – men over 50 who people see as that stereotype of a homeless person,” says Homewards advocate Sabrina Cohen-Hatton.
It is startling to see pictures of Vincent in his younger years, enjoying time with his daughter on a summer holiday before his life took a downwards turn. This is one of the documentary’s aims: to make us see homeless people as individuals with backstories, who have ended up on the streets through bad luck or bad choices.
It also shows that the definition of homelessness encompasses more than rough sleepers. In Sheffield, a family of seven has been served with a no-fault eviction notice; in Poole, a 21-year-old with a toddler is living in a hostel after her relationship broke down, and receiving no support for her mental-health issues.
These cases are being handled by patient and enthusiastic local support workers, and their stories told in the documentary by people such as Cohen-Hatton (formerly homeless herself, she is chief fire officer for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and a natural TV performer) and Gail Porter, another Homewards advocate with experience of losing the roof over her head.
So where is Prince William in all this? He is the figurehead, the energiser, the royal whose pulling power can get people around the table. In certain corners of social media he has the unfortunate nickname of Billy Idle, on account of his perceived work rate. But his interest in this subject seems genuine and he has a real capacity for putting people at ease, dispensing hugs and jokes, and mucking in at a shelter providing Christmas dinners. 
And on the Duchy estate in Cornwall, the Prince is building homes for long-term temporary housing. “At some point you’ve got to put your hand in your pocket and do something that’s going to make a difference to people’s lives,” he said (the Duchy has assets of £1bn).
Of course, this documentary is also part of the Palace’s PR operation to build a profile for the future monarch. Everyone is recorded saying what a great guy he is. The Prince is asked about the criticism that he has faced for taking on this particular subject, given his wealth and privilege and abundance of homes. He replies in carefully chosen soundbites while skirting the question, because there is really no satisfactory way for him to answer it. This programme is the best response he can give to those critics.
Prince William: We Can End Homelessness is on ITV1 on Wednesday at 9pm
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