A new, ‘homely’ building of reasonably priced apartments that will assist 33 young people in escaping homelessness has won the approval of Prince William.
After the development of Reuben House by the charity for the homeless Centerpoint was finished, he formally opened it in Peckham, southeast London.
Each 21-square-meter apartment provides each resident with their own open-plan bedroom, kitchen, and living space, as well as an en suite bathroom, catering to people who have been able to acquire employment or an apprenticeship but are unable to afford a place to live.
Opening the site on Tuesday, William, who is a patron of Centrepoint, said: ‘It’s just about that first step and you start from there. You can replicate it anywhere.’
After touring the property and meeting residents, he told supporters: ‘Incredible the space you get up there, and it feels homely.’
Rents are capped at a third of each tenant’s income as part of the charity’s wider Independent Living Programme.
This means a typical 20-year-old earning the minimum wage would pay around £400 per month – less than half the going rate for other studio flats in comparable areas.
The programme, available to people aged 18 to 25, offers a ‘stepping stone’ to people at homeless shelters, temporary accommodation and other situations such as sofa-surfing.
For people who are struggling to search for jobs or hold them down due to their living arrangements, such as those sleeping rough, Centrepoint offers a variety of other accommodation types which may be more suitable.
The charity stresses the Independent Living Programme is available to people who have not used its accommodation before.
Bosses say they plan to build a total of 300 units in London and Manchester in the coming years.