Vagrancy Act repeal marks a more compassionate approach to homelessness

Posted on 20 July 2026

The repeal of the Vagrancy Act is an important step towards recognising that people experiencing homelessness need understanding and support, not punishment.

For more than 200 years, the Act made rough sleeping and begging a criminal offence. It hadn’t been used much in recent years, but its repeal reflects a wider shift in how society understands homelessness and responds to people facing difficult circumstances.

It’s an approach that’s always shaped how we work at Southdown.

Every day, our homelessness and housing teams work alongside people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Behind every person sleeping rough is an individual story. Their circumstances might involve poor mental health, trauma, domestic abuse, financial hardship, relationship breakdown, or a combination of challenges.

There’s no single route away from homelessness. Effective support starts with listening, building trust, and understanding what matters to each person.

Meeting people where they are

Southdown’s Assertive Outreach & Move On Service sees this first-hand.

As part of the East Sussex Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Programme, our outreach workers meet people where they are and help them take the first steps away from rough sleeping.

This might mean supporting someone to access emergency accommodation, connecting them with health or specialist services, or helping them move into safe, sustainable housing.

Rob Clemence, Team Manager for the Assertive Outreach & Move On Service, said:

“For those of us working with people sleeping rough, this change is less about transforming the way we work and more about recognising the values that have always underpinned our approach. We know that rough sleeping is rarely just about housing – it’s often linked to trauma, poor mental health, financial hardship or other complex challenges.”

He added: “Our role is to build trust, understand each person’s circumstances and work alongside them to find sustainable solutions. Through strong partnerships with local authorities, health services and other organisations, we help people access accommodation and the wider support they need to move forward. While repealing the Vagrancy Act won’t end rough sleeping on its own, it reflects the importance of responding to people with compassion, dignity and a focus on prevention rather than punishment.”

Supporting lasting change

Ending homelessness takes more than safe housing. People need accessible mental health, financial, and community support too.

The repeal won’t solve homelessness on its own. But it’s another step towards a more compassionate response — one that recognises people’s circumstances, protects their dignity, and helps them move forward.