Prince William has reunited with a Big Issue salesman he sold copies alongside in London as he launched a five-year project to end long-term homelessness in the UK.
The Prince of Wales, 41, announced the London Borough of Lambeth as the first of six locations that will pilot his Homewards campaign to convene experts to find local solutions to prevent homelessness.
The heir to the throne could be seen shaking hands with Dave Martin and having a friendly conversation with the veteran vendor.
A year ago William donned a Big Issue red gilet and baseball cap and successfully shifted all of his copies within an hour on the streets of Westminster to the delight of Mr Martin as he was using his card payment reader.
Dave said on meeting William again: “It’s really personal to him. His mother took him to The Passage and that’s where he first experienced homelessness.”
He also spoke about William's private visit on his birthday last June to see Dave on his patch in Hammersmith to share a cake and have a chat.
Dave said: “He didn’t want any coverage and that is why I think he is genuine.”
With William's new five year project he wants to ensure that spells on the street would only be "rare, brief and unrepeated."
The heir to the throne is to announce details of the programme over the next two days as he visits six pilot projects around the country that have received grants of up to £500,000 each from the Royal Foundation, the charity that supports the work of William and his wife.
He spoke with members of the Homewards coalition and members of the public who use Mosaic Club House, in Brixton, which exists to break the link between mental health and homelessness in Lambeth.
He said: "I'm really excited to see what we can do together. The next five years there is a lot to do.
"Build on the good work you guys are already doing and hope we can collaborate more, convene more, scale more, and hopefully see where we are in five years time.
"Thank you for everything you have done so far to be part of the solution in this process and to pick your brains, your knowledge and experience, and understand what really matters in Lambeth and find locally led solutions here and achieve what we want to do, that is my ambition."
He added: "I also want to reframe some of the narrative. I feel a lot of you have been doing this for a lot longer than me, the time is right now to really go for it. As long as I've got the backing of you guys.
He also spoke for collaboration and opening up to the private sector.
Speaking to locals who use the centre, he described how he developed Homewards, saying: "It's been two year of actually constructing it and ten years of thinking about it, so I can't believe we are finally here."
And he called for competition between London Boroughs to find ways to end homelessness.
He joked: "Also competition with other London Boroughs. There is a method to my madness. Responsible competition. This makes everyone raise their game."
Lucy Hastings, chairman of Mosaic, said: "It's amazing, so delighted that he starts here as it's not just about homelessness but about supporting the individual."
He was also given a lesson in latte decoration by Old Spike, which is a social enterprise which trains homeless people as baristas.
The Prince of Wales then delivered his first speech on Homewards to invited guests in the centre's back garden.
He said: Good morning everybody. I am personally delighted to be with you all here today in this beautiful garden at the Mosaic Clubhouse, such a cornerstone of the Lambeth community.
"It has been inspiring to hear about the vital work you are doing to break the link between mental health challenges and homelessness.
"After so many years in the making, today is the day we launch Homewards – a transformative five-year programme that will demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness.
"My first visit to a homelessness shelter was when I was 11 with my mother. The visits we made, left a deep and lasting impression.
"I met so many extraordinary people and listened to so many heart-breaking personal stories. Too many people have found themselves without a stable and permanent place to call home.
"Through these visits, I have seen first-hand the breadth and complexities of homelessness. A personal thank you to people such as Dave Wilson, who is here today and who gave me an induction in selling The Big Issue last summer...
"And also to the fantastic teams at my patronages, Centrepoint and The Passage, who have really helped me to understand not just their own work, but the tremendous impact of the sector more widely.
"I know that great strides have been made, with success stories proving that progress is possible."
He continued: "So, I am pleased to stand here today to officially at the start of our path to ending homelessness.
"Over the next five years, I believe that we have a unique opportunity to develop innovative new solutions and scale tangible impact. This will inspire belief throughout the UK – and beyond – that homelessness can be ended for good.
"I am delighted to be at the beginning of that journey launching Homewards here in Lambeth."
Homewards also hopes to emulate the success of Finland, where people receive permanent housing as a first step before trying to address other issues such as substance abuse.
The initiative comes as rising rents and a shortage of affordable housing push more people into homelessness amid the biggest decline in living standards since World War II.
Around 300,000 people across the country are now homeless on any given night, according to Matt Downie, chief executive of the charity Crisis, one of the organizations working with Homewards.
"The best way to tackle homelessness is to stop it happening in the first place," Downie said. "We've seen it in other countries such as Finland, where homelessness is all but ended, and we've seen it when we follow innovative programs that give people housing first."
