Reuters reported on June 26 that Prince William, Prince of Wales and first in line to the British throne, has launched a five-year program to support homeless people in six locations.

The 41-year-old prince has long supported charities working to end homelessness, after his mother Princess Diana took him to visit a shelter when he was 11.

He also slept on the streets with homeless people one winter night in 2009 to reflect on the issue. He said the project, called Homewards, would provide financial support, expertise and partnerships to prevent homelessness.

The prince is expected to announce the six sites after his visit. "I am confident that this collaboration will help make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurrent. I look forward to working with the six sites to make our ambitions a reality," he said.

In the UK, charities estimate that around 270,000 of the country's 28 million households are homeless. This means many people, including children, are sleeping on the streets or in their cars, living in temporary accommodation, boarding houses or with relatives.

Charities warn that the figure is expected to rise due to the cost of living crisis.

Prince William’s project is supported by the Royal Foundation, his charity and that of his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. Each site will receive £500,000. He hopes the results of the project will be applied elsewhere to support the homeless.