Newport: Prince William and Geri Halliwell launch homeless scheme

Prince William and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner hugged as they visited a school to launch the royal's project to end homelessness.

The five-year programme, named Homewards, will concentrate on six areas, one of which is Newport.

The singer joined the Prince of Wales at Maindee Primary School as she is an advocate for the scheme.

The prince also visited a housing project where a homeless woman said she was desperate for a place to feel safe.

Speaking to residents at the Hill Street project the price said he believed everyone should a "safe and secure" home and that he wanted to end homelessness.

"I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated and I am very much looking forward to working with our six locations to make our ambition a reality," he said.

At the school the impact of homelessness on families was examined and the roles they can play in preventing homelessness was considered.

Michaela Tia Johnson said she had been homeless "on and off" for 30 years.

She ended up living in a tent as she did not want to be around the drugs she feared would be present in a hostel.

Ms Johnson said she would settle for a "dingy little room" if she could call it her own.

"(Somewhere) I can close the door and I know I am safe," she said.

"Because I can't do this no more, I can't see my grandkids, I won't let them see me in this state."

At Hill Street the prince chatted with tenants about the difference the scheme had made to their lives.

Mohamed Kharif, 50, originally from Sudan, came to the UK in 2016.

He lived under a Newport bridge for two years before moving into homeless accommodation last year.

He told the "very down to earth" prince it had changed his life.

"I think this is a good idea for homeless people, they need someone to think like this," he said of the prince's project.

Newport Council leader Jane Mudd said: "We have a clear commitment in Newport to transform services and end homelessness, which is already demonstrated by excellent partnership working locally."

Since the pandemic Newport has seen a 114% rise in demand for temporary accommodation.

In March 2023, there were more than 450 households put in temporary accommodation by the council.

Almost 60% of these were single adults. But in the last year Newport has seen a 40% increase in family homelessness.

There are now more than 9,000 people waiting for social housing in the city, the council says.

In 2021-22 there were 686 new social housing lettings, of which 302 went to homeless households.

Newport has consistently reported high numbers of rough sleepers with a 2022-23 average of 31 individuals.