Prince highlights homeless plight

Prince William is the cover star of the latest Big Issue
12 April 2012

Prince William has highlighted how the economic downturn has had a "devastating effect" on the numbers of people sleeping rough on Britain's streets.

The royal, who is patron of the homeless charity Centrepoint, has aired his concerns in an article for the Big Issue magazine.

William is the cover star of the latest issue of the publication sold by rough sleepers across the country.

His words will also be featured in 115 titles across the globe, sold by homeless street vendors, that are members of the International Network of Street Papers.

Writing in the magazine the royal states: "The economic downturn has had a devastating effect on the numbers of homeless rough sleepers in our communities.

"In London alone, rough sleeping has risen by almost a quarter in just two years, and that figure does not even include those who have been forced out of their homes into temporary accommodation or overcrowded housing."

Since 2005 the prince has been the patron of Centrepoint, a charity that looks after homeless young people in the UK.

Last Christmas William spent a night on the streets of London sleeping rough to highlight the issue.

William also paid a personal tribute to those who he calls the "restorers of hope," who care for the welfare of homeless people around the world.

The royal said it was a "blight on our societies" to have people living close-by with no hope.

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