Lionesses legend Fara Williams has opened up about the seven years she was homeless as she backs the Prince of Wales in his mission to tackle rough sleeping.
But after years of speaking out to raise awareness, she also declares the time for talk is over – and she is now focused on actually ending the blight, like Prince William.
Fara kept her plight a secret from teammates, moving from shelter to shelter as she played. She was 17 when family problems left her on the streets and kipping in hostels and at friends’ houses.
Now 39 and an MBE with 177 England caps – more than any other player, male as well as female – she supports William’s Homewards campaign.
Fara said: “I’ve talked a lot about my time without a home to raise awareness but I don’t want to keep talking about it.
“I want to act and focus my efforts on ending it, a sentiment shared by Prince William.
“Looking back, there were opportunities that could have prevented me remaining homeless. But one of the biggest barriers was the judgement I thought I would get.
“People have so many misconceptions of homelessness and I felt they’d assume it was my fault. That was one of the most difficult things. Nobody chooses to be homeless. You can find yourself without family or a job through no fault of your own.”
Fara grew up on an estate in Battersea, South West London. After a family breakdown, she spent her 18th and 21st birthdays in hostels.
And she revealed she once refused an England contract as it would have left her unable to sign on.
Fara said football was her release in this difficult time, adding: “It gave me an anchor and a reason to keep going. Other girls experiencing homelessness didn’t have this and I feel lucky that even during these times, I always knew I had football.”
She came off the streets aged 24, after moving to Merseyside, and went on to star in the 2012 London Olympics and help the Lionesses finish third at the 2015 World Cup.
The midfielder’s club honours include two Women’s Super League title wins with Liverpool and the FA Cup with both Everton and Arsenal.
Now a BBC Sport pundit, Fara thinks the Prince of Wales’s campaign – which features England and Aston Villa player Tyrone Mings, 30, and is handing £500,000 of funding to six flagship locations – can make a difference.
She said: “There are misconceptions homelessness is just sleeping on the streets but hidden homelessness is such a huge issue and I love that Homewards is focused on this.”
William’s work echoes efforts by his mum Diana, a passionate campaigner on rough sleeping.
The Prince, who met Fara in his role as president of the FA, said at last month’s Homewards launch: “Everyone should have a safe and secure home.”
