Zahra Bahrololoumi, CEO, Salesforce UK & Ireland, said:
“Our work with Prince William’s Homewards programme and the launch of the Homelessness Data Lab represents a definitive shift in how society can tackle its most complex challenges. Over 430,000 people across the UK are currently facing homelessness – but this isn’t inevitable. Homelessness is rarely random; it can be predictable, which means with the right tools and support, it can be preventable. By bringing together more than 25 organisations across the private, public, and non-profit sectors, the Data Lab allows us to put data and technology to work safely and ethically where it is needed most. At Salesforce, we believe business is one of the greatest platforms for change, and we are proud to contribute our technology and expertise to empower frontline services, identify risk earlier, and help make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated.”
The launch of the Homelessness Data Lab is being marked by a partnership with London Tech Week, where homelessness will feature on the agenda for the first time. Activity will include a panel discussion featuring The Prince of Wales and senior business leaders, alongside a pitch session where five entrepreneurs from Venture Studio from Crisis and the Homewards locations will pitch their innovations that use data and tech to prevent homelessness.
Homewards was launched in 2023 and works across six locations in the UK, including Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland and Sheffield. Since launch, Homewards has worked to engage a wide range of organisations, including those outside the traditional homelessness sector, demonstrating that prevention requires action across all levels of society. Its goal is to show that homelessness can be made rare, brief and unrepeated if we all play our part.
