The government will repeal the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June, ending nearly two centuries of legislation which criminalised rough sleeping and begging.
The Act was originally introduced in 1824 in response to rising homelessness following the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution.
Ministers say the legislation has punished people simply for not having a home, pushing vulnerable people away from support and increasing the risk of fines or criminal records.
The repeal forms part of the government’s National Plan to End Homelessness, which is backed by £3.6 billion over the next three years.
The plan aims to halve long-term rough sleeping and end the unlawful use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families by the end of the current Parliament.
The government says it is also investing ÂŁ39 billion over the next ten years in social and affordable housing, describing it as the biggest long-term investment of its kind in a generation.
Recent figures show social and affordable housing starts are up 35 per cent since 2024, with completions also rising again this year.
Following a week of record temperatures, members of the public are also being reminded to use the StreetLink alert system to notify their local authority if they see someone rough sleeping who may need support.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Homeless people are not criminals, they are people who need help.
“By repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act, we are shifting from punishment to prevention, alongside our investment to tackle homelessness for good.”
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said: “Repealing the Vagrancy Act is a long-overdue step that reflects a modern understanding of homelessness.
“We are turning our backs on a centuries old approach and instead focusing our attention on what works through providing support, preventing homelessness, and helping people rebuild their lives.
“Our Plan to End Homelessness will drive that change, helping more people off the streets and into the security of a permanent home.”
Although use of the Vagrancy Act has declined sharply, the government says it has still sometimes been used to move people on rather than address the root causes of homelessness.
As part of the National Plan to End Homelessness, a ÂŁ159 million grant for supported housing is intended to help more than 2,500 people across England move off the streets and into more stable housing, as well as preventing others from becoming street homeless.
The plan also sets targets to halve the number of people who become homeless on their first night out of prison and to ensure no eligible person is discharged to the street after a hospital stay.
Ministers say the long-term ambition is that no one should be made homeless after leaving a public institution.
The government says its upcoming Social Housing Bill will strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse in social housing, helping to prevent homelessness.
Research cited by ministers shows nearly 70 per cent of women experiencing rough sleeping in 2025 had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.
The government says powers already exist to tackle antisocial behaviour where it occurs, including under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
These powers are intended to be used where behaviour causes harassment or distress, rather than for simply being homeless. Statutory guidance will be updated to ensure they are used appropriately.
Ministers say they will also continue to take a tough stance on organised crime. New offences in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will target organised begging gangs, people who exploit others for financial gain, and trespass linked to criminal activity.
