The UK's Prince William has a new mission. He wants to end homelessness his country. There are more than 300,000 people sleeping doorways and the streets across Britain. In London, the number "rough sleepers" has increased by 20 per cent the past year. William will follow the example set his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. She took him to a homeless charity when he was a schoolboy. He said he would never forget the sadness he felt to see people a home. William told reporters that: " a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home." He added that people should, "be treated dignity and given the support they need".
Prince William helped to start a charity called Homewards. Its aim is to end rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary housing. He hopes to be as successful as Finland, where being a home is almost a thing the past. Homewards has a five-year project that will focus six areas of the UK, including one part London. After the five years, William hopes to widen the project to the whole the country. He said: "Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and…give people the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we [help each other]." He added: "It's a big task, but I firmly believe that working together, it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated."
