1824. It’s a long time ago, and almost two centuries before all our lifetimes. And yet the Vagrancy Act of that year has only just been repealed (June 29^th, 2026). Why is this of significance? Because it now ends 200 years of the criminalisation of rough sleeping.

Punishment

Another way of looking at this is to see the Vagrancy Act as punishing people for experiencing homelessness. When our housing systems are unable to provide the resources or support for people to prevent them from entering into homelessness, then another system adds to the pressure by criminalising them. For those who have been subject to this act, it can only have made the homelessness emergencies they have experienced even harder to recover from.

Prevention

The government has said “Repealing the Act is a vital step in ending a system that has failed to address the causes of rough sleeping and in shifting the focus towards prevention, support and long-term solutions.” This isn’t revolutionary. Caring in Bristol has seen that homelessness is not inevitable for a long time. Our work has seen lives changed when timely advice, information, and support are introduced as early as possible. This idea is reflected in the name of our project, Early Doors, which uses early intervention strategies to prevent the worst housing situations form happening.

Blame

Blame is frequently laid on people experiencing homelessness. For those pushed into rough sleeping, who experience some of the harshest conditions in our city, this attitude of blame is isolating and stigmatising; another punishment on top of being criminalised. It’s important that we shift the focus onto failing systems and inadequate resources, and provide people with understanding, support, and solutions to help them access safe, good quality, affordable housing.

Rethinking attitudes

While it’s not clear how much the Vagrancy Act was used, either as a threat or to prosecute, the fact that a legal instrument designed to tackle homelessness during the Industrial Revolution and after the Napoleonic Wars still existed in 2026 is wake-up call for society to rethink its attitude to homelessness. Those experiencing street homelessness face considerable risks to their safety and wellbeing as it is, without the additional risk of criminalisation.

Housing is a priority

It’s positive to see this act make an exit, especially hot on the heels of the Renters’ Rights Act which arrived in May this year. Hopefully, this is a sign that the wake-up call is being heard. There’s still a long way to go, but a growing awareness of the importance of an affordable, good quality home is to be welcomed. When we consider that our homes are a vital foundation to virtually every aspect of our lives, we realise that getting housing right is a priority.

There are still laws that can potentially target people pushed into rough sleeping, and repealing the archaic Vagrancy Act does not in itself reduce it. Less harsh living conditions are still harsh conditions. 1824 was a couple of centuries ago, but 2026 is happening now. The reality is huge numbers of people are still experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping, and housing insecurity. It’s why we work tirelessly to find solutions to this, and why we should all care.

All handbooks can help individuals access support, resources, and advice in Bristol. They are also helpful to workers and volunteers to support effective signposting to resources.