Leading homelessness charity ALABARÉ says the official repeal of the 200-year-old Vagrancy Act as of Monday, 29 June 2026 is a huge step forward for the care of people who are sleeping rough.
The Vagrancy Act, first introduced in 1824, has effectively criminalised homelessness for the last two centuries, creating a stigma in the public consciousness which wrongly assumes that people on the streets are undeserving of support.
Removing the fear of punishment for those at risk of homelessness breaks down barriers to the help they need and, in turn, could help eliminate some of the shame associated with rough sleeping, leading to greater preventative actions.
The repeal of the Vagrancy Act comes just over a year after the Government announced plans to remove the outdated legislation and to show its intent to improve the support system available to the homeless.
It also follows the publication of the National Plan to End Homelessness and £3.6 billion of funding towards the goal of halving long-term rough sleeping by the end of the current Parliament.
Andrew Lord, Chief Executive of ALABARÉ, says today’s move is a landmark moment:
“No one should be punished for falling on hard times and being faced with no other choice than to sleep in unsuitable locations, without the support they need to stay safe, rebuild their lives, and look forward with positivity.
“Scrapping the Vagrancy Act is hugely important to make people at risk of homelessness feel less like a criminal and more like a person who deserves a helping hand.
“We’re also pleased to see the Government’s ongoing commitment to this issue, including the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, focused spending on providing more social and affordable housing, and funding towards frontline support services, such as those across ALABARÉ’s drop-in centres and supported living accommodation.
“We hope this step is just the start of a systemic change towards breaking the cycle of homelessness to ensure no one is left behind.”
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