Prince William’s bid to end homelessness has Christian values at its heart

The Christian faith has a long tradition of caring for the least, the last and the lost. So it was a joyous surprise to hear the heir to the throne – and future Defender of the Faith – champion such Christian values through his new scheme to end homelessness, says George Pitcher

When I first arrived in London in the 70s, I was “of no fixed address”, as the police would describe the circumstance of homelessness. I dossed, sofa surfed and, when I was broke, paid “rent” unconventionally, in kind.

I’ve slept rough in the UK and across Europe, although I don’t recall ever sleeping rough in London, other than part of a night spent at King’s Cross station, before I was turfed out and found a seedy local boarding house.

Despite my experiences, I never felt homeless, significantly because I had an elder sister whom I knew would take me in - and often did. But, strictly speaking, I didn’t have a home to call my own; somewhere to hang my hat. I mean that literally – I learned that a hat is very important on the streets in January.